Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert knew there would be no repeat of last season's shocking Capital One Cup exit to lower league opposition after they made light work of Rotherham.
Villa are still showing scars from their semi-final loss to Bradford, but goals from Andreas Weimann, Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph made sure that was never on the cards in the second-round clash at Villa Park.
The fact that Benteke, Weimann and Gabby Agbonlahor were all named in the starting XI showed how seriously Lambert was taking their League One opponents and it paid dividends with a dominant display.
"You have got to earn the right to win the football match but I thought we would with the team we put out," Lambert said. "Some of the football was excellent. The third goal - the one-touch football was brilliant.
"There is a different feeling this time to Bradford. The squad is really together and strong and we trusted them to go out there and perform and they have been excellent.
"Cup football is a difficult thing because you can play against a small team and they are a totally different animal to what you are used to playing in the league. But we handled it well."
Weimann opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a fine 20-yard effort and then Benteke doubled the lead before the break when he headed home at the far post.
The third goal after the break was the stellar moment for Villa as Delph latched onto a scooped through ball by Benteke to slam home.
The victory sets up a third-round home tie with Tottenham and Lambert is happy to be back at Villa Park.
"Any cup game you play you want to be at home, but we are up against a top, top side. It will be a tough game, but that's what you have to do.
Source: PA
