Aston Villa are taking Carabao Cup challenge 'really seriously - Alan Hutton

We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…

Aston Villa cruised into the third round of the Carabao Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory away at Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday evening.

The Villans had an early scare when Dion Charles put the League One side in front but they were quick to respond through Douglas Luiz minutes later.

The screw was well and truly turned in the second half as Danny Ings, Lucas Digne and Leon Bailey all added further goals to the tally and secured Villa's place in round three.

There, they will face a tough trip to Old Trafford to take on Erik Ten Hag's Manchester United who picked up their first win of the season 24 hours prior to Villa's success against Liverpool.

Alan Hutton is glad to see that Steven Gerrard selected a strong side for the trip to the University of Bolton Stadium but admits the next task is a tough one.

“The Carabao Cup is definitely one they could go for,” Hutton told Villa News. “I think you could tell with the team he put out, of course off the back of a defeat was a reason for the strong team, but going away to Bolton was a potential banana skin.

“The side was a lot stronger than I thought it would be so it shows you that he’s taking this really seriously and he wants to go far in the competition.

“I think it’s Manchester United away in the next round which isn’t easy and not ideal but he’s obviously taking things seriously.”

Next up for Aston Villa, West Ham United visit Villa Park looking to not only pick up their first points of the season but also score their first goal.

In other Aston Villa news, Bolton's goal is one that will have left Gerrard seething and he will have to address that in training.