*Two goals from Scott Hogan helped Aston Villa to comfortably beat Barnsley and move up to third in the Championship.*

Hogan’s quickfire double, firing past Adam Davies before heading in a second soon after, put Villa 2-0 up after just seven minutes.

Dimitri Cavare’s header reduced the deficit, but Conor Hourihane struck Villa’s third against his former club.

Hogan hit the post after the break, while Kieffer Moore and Tom Bradshaw missed chances at the other end.

Victory meant Villa have now won four consecutive league games, putting them back in contention for automatic promotion.

With tributes being paid to former striker Cyrille Regis following his death at the age of 59, Villa only needed five minutes to take the lead as Hogan guided Ahmed El Mohamedy’s cross past Davies.

The Republic of Ireland international claimed his fourth goal in three games two minutes later as he headed in from Robert Snodgrass’ corner.

Cavare soon reduced Villa’s advantage when he nodded past Sam Johnstone, but Hourihane then turned in from Grealish’s pass to make it 3-1.

*Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce told BBC WM:*

“We did exceptionally well for an hour, then went a bit sloppy and a bit negative, and possibly thought it was going to be too easy. We had two or three unbelievable chances to make it four and didn’t take them, and that gave them a bit of a lifeline.

“They had one or two chances themselves, but all in all, it was a comfortable victory and we’ll move onto the next one.

“We’re coming to the end of January, we’re in with a shout - there or thereabouts - and there’s a bit of confidence and belief coming. We looked a very decent team at times today.”