Walsall suffered defeat in their second friendly of pre-season as Premier League outfit Aston Villa ran out comfortable winners at the Banks’s Stadium.
Ollie Watkins scored twice in the first half before Jaden Bidace and Aaron Ramsey struck in the second half to earn Villa the victory.
There was a first appearance of pre-season for Joss Labadie who came into the starting XI.
Jack Rose and Manny Monthé also came in from the start having started from the bench against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Villains’ starting XI included new signings Ashley Young and Emiliano Buendia as well as first team regulars Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins, Marvelous Nakamba and Anwar El Ghazi.
Both teams started brightly. Villa had an early chance when Matty Cash forced a save out of Jack Rose after a minute.
Walsall’s first opportunity came when Jed Steer came racing out of his area to head the ball but only as far as Brendan Kiernan who tried to lob it into the empty net from distance but he missed the target.
Rose was kept busy in the opening 20 minutes but stood up well to what was thrown at him, having denied Anwar El Ghazi and Ollie Watkins with two fine saves.
The visitors eventually took the lead after 26 minutes when Emiliano Buendia’s exquisite pass found Watkins who smartly took the ball round Rose before applying the finish despite Monthé’s best efforts to block off the line.
Villa had wrestled control at this point and came close to a second when a short corner found Cash who controlled well before he unleashed a shot that flew just over the bar.
The Premier League side doubled their advantage on 38 minutes when Buendia linked up with Watkins again and the striker coolly slotted past Rose and Villa went into the break with a 2-0 lead.
Villa changed their entire XI at the break with John McGinn, Wesley, Conor Hourihane, Kourtney Hause and Keinan Davis coming on as well as a handful of youngsters.
Matt Taylor made two changes at the break as Carl Rushworth and Rollin Menayese were introduced in place of Rose and Monthé.
Villa made a strong start to the second half and applied the early pressure.
They scored their third five minutes into the half when Jaden Bidace finished smartly after being played through by Wesley.
The fourth came nine minutes later when Aaron Ramsey arrowed in a low shot as the Premier League side showed their class.
Taylor made five more substitutions as Tom Leak, Zak Mills, Joe Foulkes, Joe Willis and Sam Perry all came on in place of Hayden White, Stephen Ward, Labadie, Ash Taylor and Emmanuel Osadebe.
Danny Coogan came on for his first appearance of pre-season with 14 minutes to go as he replaced Kiernan.
The Saddlers continued to battle and tried to move the ball but Villa made life difficult remained in control throughout and the game finished 4-0.
Rose (Rushworth), White (Foulkes), Monthé (Menayese), Taylor (Leak), Ward (Mills), Kiernan (Coogan), Labadie (Willis), Kinsella, Trialist A (Trialist B), Osadebe (Perry), Phillips.