New chairman Randy Lerner was the main man off the pitch but JPA was the 'Juan' to catch the eye on it with a brace against Scunthorpe.

The Colombian striker hit one in each half to put the Iron to the sword in the second round of the League Cup at Glanford Park.

Billy Sharp pulled one back for Brian Laws' team but it was only a consolation in the end.

Scunthorpe had the first chance of the half - and what an excellent chance it was! Thomas Sorensen had to collect at the second time of asking in the second minute after Billy Sharp had raced clear for the home side.

Luke Moore saw a close range shot charged down on 15 and from the subsequent counter-attack Andy Keogh had a 20 yarder well saved by Sorensen.

Villa produced a wonderful passing move on 26. Juan Pablo Angel laid the ball off to Gabriel Agbonlahor whose deep cross was met by Luke Moore at the far past. Unfortunately a deflection weakened the effort and the goalkeeper managed to save.

Moore saw another effort deflected just wide two minutes later from just outside the box.

Villa should have took the lead on 33 and all through the industry of Agbonlahor down the right. He pulled the ball back to Angel whose close range shot hammered against the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Gareth Barry showed his undoubted class - beating two players on the right before hitting a delightful left foot curler which skimmed the top of the bar. The move deserved a goal!

Sorensen proved provider with a pinpoint pass that released Moore on 41. The young striker was felled by Richard Hinds in the box and the referee awarded a penalty. Angel scored with a rebound after his initial spot-kick had been saved by former WBA 'keeper Joe Murphy.

Then McCann was replaced by Peter Whittingham on 43 after The Enforcer had picked up a calf strain.

The home side could have been level within a minute of the re-start when Sorensen only managed to parry a 20 yard Keogh swerving drive but give the goalkeeper credit. He managed to deny Sharp the rebound from close range.

Villa produced a good move on 51, Whittingham providing a good cross for Angel to nod down to Moore. The striker's drive was well saved by Murphy.

On 55, Agbonlahor saw a free header from close in sail over the bar before Hinds had a moment of madness when his clearance from a Moore cross rattled his own crossbar. Then Agbonlahor saw another header fly over from a magnificent Barry cross.

Angel doubled his and Villa's tally for the night with a magnificent header from six yards out after a pinpoint cross from Steven Davis.

Then to make matters worse for Scunthorpe, Milan Baros was introduced for Moore on 69.

Sorensen pulled off a great save on 73 at the near post from Sharp but the striker wasn't to be denied from the resulting corner when his header powered into the net.

Then Davis saw a shot from 15 yards clatter into the post before Agbonlahor's effort went wide. Whittingham had a magnificent effort deflect wide but it would have gone in if it hadn't glanced off Hinds on 78.

Villa: Sorensen, Hughes, Mellberg BOOKED, Ridgewell, Barry, Petrov, McCann, Davis, Moore, Angel, Agbonlahor. Subs: Taylor, Laursen, Baros (for Moore, 69), Whittingham (for McCann, 43), Berger.

Scunthorpe: Murphy, Mulligan, Hinds BOOKED, Foster, Williams, Taylor, Sparrow, Baraclough, Morris, Keogh BOOKED, Sharp. Subs: Lillis, Ridley, Crosby, Byrne, MacKenzie.