ASTON Villa, draw specialists of late under new manager Brian Little. went through to the fourth round at the first attempt with a comfortable 2-0 victory.

Both goals came in the second half, the breakthrough being inspired by Steve Staunton. one of three Irish players in the Villa side.

He won a corner down the left, which he took himself and which Dwight Yorke headed home firmly from all of three yards.

Once Villa got in front, they seemed likely not to be caught by a Barnsley side bereft of ideas up front.

The issue was put beyond doubt six minutes from time, when another Staunton corner was deflected off the post by John Fashanu, but Townsend crossed the loose ball to the back post for Dean Saunders to volley to the net through the keeper's legs from close range.

The first cancelled goal came after 19 minutes, with a move started by Townsend's pass to lan Taylor.

His cross from the left was headed goal ward by Fashanu to be saved by Watson and Earl Barrett bundled the ball into the net from an offside position.

Fifteen minutes later. Fashanu had his own effort ruled offside. Barnsley's debut making 19-year-old centre half, Adrian Moses, gave the ball away to Saunders. who freed Dwight Yorke down the right.

His cross allowed Fashanu to send a diving header to the net, but to no avail as the linesman's flag shot upward immediately.

Earlier on, Townsend initiated a move deep in his own half and passed to Saunders, who gave Yorke a clear run goalwards.

His shot was parried by Watson, only for the supporting Saunders to crack the rebound off the crossbar and Fashanu blazed the second rebound high and wide from eight yards.