Wednesday 9 August 2017 23:33, UK
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce believes their Carabao Cup test at League Two Colchester will be valuable experience after they progressed to the second round with a 2-1 win.
Scott Hogan and Frankie Kent's own goal gave Villa a 2-0 lead inside 19 minutes at a rain-sodden Weston Homes Community Stadium, before Kent netted at the right end before half-time.
"It was a great experience for our young players," Bruce said. "We had eight or nine lads aged 20 or under and this will have done them the world of good.
"It's given them a taste of what it's like to play in a cup tie and seeing them out there was a highlight for me.
"The conditions were tough and we had a makeshift back four, so it was always going to be difficult.
"Jed [Steer] pulled off two or three very good saves and I'm delighted for him, because he's worked really hard to get back.
"He ruptured his Achilles in my first week at the club but he's a very decent goalkeeper and he got his rewards.
Villa took a seventh-minute when Hogan slotted in, after Colchester keeper Sam Walker had challenged Andre Green in the area.
But Colchester quickly won a penalty when Sammie Szmodics was fouled by Chris Samba, only for Steer to deny Mikael Mandron.
Villa doubled their lead when Kent diverted Albert Adomah's cross into his own net but Kent made amends six minutes before half-time when he guided Kyle Reid's effort past Steer.
Bruce added: "You wouldn't send a lifeboat out in those conditions and I've never known anything like it for an August evening. It was unbelievable.
"We made too many mistakes but thankfully got away with it."
