A second-half goal from Conor Hourihane ensured Aston Villa progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a slender win over Yeovil at Huish Park.
Villa were made to work for the win after a strong performance from Yeovil that included a disallowed goal and a penalty that had to be saved by Villa’s debutant keeper Andre Moreira.
Yeovil had the better chances throughout the game, but it was Hourihane’s close-range finish that made all the difference and ensured Villa’s best start to a season in 56 years with three wins from their opening three games.
It was Yeovil who started the better of the two teams, with Alex Fisher forcing Andre Moreira to tip his curling effort round the post before Yoann Arquin went close with a well-struck volley inside the first 15 minutes.
Villa started to assert themselves more as the half went on, however, a strong effort from Andre Green from 35 yards out was the only action Villa forced on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Nathan Baxter into making.
Yeovil asked questions of Villa throughout the half and were unfortunate not to go into the break in front after Diallang Jaiyesimi put the ball in the net, but the referee controversially disallowed the goal after appearing to spot a foul during the scramble in Villa’s box that led to the goal.
It was Villa who could have found themselves hard done by after the break, however, as Yeovil’s Gary Warren appeared to block Hourihane’s goal-bound shot with his hand.
Yeovil were given their biggest chance of the game when the referee awarded a penalty after a foul in the box by Villa’s Tommy Elphick, but it was Moreira who stepped up to save Fisher’s penalty on the hour mark.
It was the introduction of Villa’s Jack Grealish and Jonathan Kodjia that made the difference in a tight game, with the former hitting the bar with a rasping strike after cutting onto his right foot.
Grealish then released Kodjia down the right flank, who produced a skilful turn before his deflected ball across goal was hammered in from close range by Hourihane to give Villa the lead.
A spirited Yeovil side pushed to find an equaliser, but it was Steve Bruce’s side who held on for an unconvincing victory to progress to the second round.
