​Aston Villa's demolition job on Derby County had County's new manager Colin Addison groaning in despair about the inadequacies of his outfit.

Villa's 3-1 win - their first away in the league - was certainly very convincing, and they would not have been flattered if the score had been doubled.

But any judgment on Villa's latest progress will have to be deferred until they play a side of true First Division ability. Derby are scarcely fit to be described in that category.

Addison, who gained so much respect as Ron Atkinson's assistant at West Bromwich Albion last season. knows it and he said as much after watching his side's capitulation. "If we didn't know already this game proved that it is going to be a very long and hard season for us," he said.

"Villa cut us up more than any other side. But we have no excuses. We played badly. It was very disappointing and we gave away two of the goals."

Ron Saunders, Villa's manager, did not give the impression of being absolutely ecstatic about the performance apart from agreeing that it was the best his side had played all season.

There were several bonus points, however, about Villa's display which suggests that Saunders' revamped side is beginning to move in the right direction.

Little's first goal after a 33-week famine was perhaps the biggest. He certainly looked something like his former self and if Villa could get 15 goals a campaign out of him a lot of their problems up front would be solved.

New centre-forward Geddis is still waiting to score his first goal after seven games and it may be that Saunders will have to buy another striker to complement him. Geddis cannot be faulted for his work rate but he possibly needs another experienced forward to feed off.

In other areas, Villa could not be faulted. Ormsby who replaced McNaught at centre half, had a magnificent game and he scarcely made a mistake. The same could be said of fullback Pejic.

In midfield Villa were handsomely served by Mortimer and Cowans while the other new boy, Bremner looks to be the bell winner the side has needed ever since Cropley broke his leg.

Neat volley

After Little had opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a neat volley when a Cowans corner had been only half cleared it was soon evident that Villa were the strongest side. Emson headed a smart 44th minute equaliser for Derby after a rare lapse in defence.

But after the interval Villa were completely in command. Cowans hit a perfect cross to Shaw in the 58th minute for him to put Villa ahead again and Mortimer confirmed their superiority in the 71st minute after yet another brilliant run by Cowans.

Derby were let off lightly and they can be thankful that they were. Villa must clearly be more ruthless, though, against opponents of Derby's paucity.