Aston Villa have booked their place in round two of the EFL Cup with a 2-1 win away to a spirited Colchester United.
The Villans took the lead in the seventh minute through Scott Hogan, who reacted quickest when the League Two side's goalkeeper Sam Walker spilled a through-ball into his path, placing his strike into the bottom corner.
Colchester had the chance to level the scoreline from the penalty spot just moments after falling behind when Christopher Samba brought down Sammie Szmodics in the box.
Striker Mikael Mandron stepped up, but Villa goalkeeper Jed Steer guessed correctly and saved to his left.
The home team would rue the miss as they fell further behind in the 18th minute when Frankie Kent turned Albert Adomah's cross into his own net.
Colchester, however, grew into the game after going two down and started putting their opponents under the cosh, causing them all kinds of problems in the final third.
John McGreal's men pulled a deserved goal back in the 39th minute when Kent struck a screamer into the bottom corner from 25 yards out, beating Steer at full stretch.
Colchester went in search of an equaliser after the break, but while committing men forward they almost fell further behind, Adomah's shot from close range needing a line clearance from Kent to stay out.
The Os' best chance to equalise came eight minutes from time when Szmodics gained possession on the edge of the box and let fly, forcing an acrobatic save from Steer, who turned the ball behind with a strong hand.
Szmodics's strike proved to be the last meaningful opportunity of the match as the Villans ran the clock down and booked their place in round two.
