BIRMINGHAM (Interstat) — Aston Villa defeated Viking 3-1 at Villa Park on Wednesday, using a first-half goal from Ross Barkley and a three-goal total to secure a home win in the competition. Villa was the home team and Viking was the visiting team for the match in Birmingham. Villa’s competition record improved to 2 wins and 0 losses, while Viking moved to 0 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. Villa has yet to lose in the competition this season, while Viking is still seeking its first competition win. The match was a midweek fixture. Villa protected its advantage after taking the lead in the first half and held Viking to one goal.

Barkley opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Villa held that lead through halftime and added to its total after the break, with Emiliano Buendia also scoring for the home side. Peter Christiansen pulled one back for Viking in the 84th minute, but the visitors could not close the gap. Christiansen’s late goal gave Viking a consolation finish, while Villa’s three-goal output stood as the difference. Barkley’s 23rd-minute goal was the first of the match, and Christiansen’s 84th-minute goal was the last scoring entry listed.

Christiansen’s statline for Viking was 90 minutes and one goal. Buendia’s statline for Villa was 90 minutes and one goal. Barkley’s statline for Villa was 70 minutes and one goal. Askildsen’s statline for Viking was 90 minutes and one assist. Mbaye’s statline for Villa was 72 minutes and one assist. Those performances topped the list of key contributions in a match that turned on Villa’s finishing and Viking’s inability to convert enough chances. Christiansen and Buendia each played the full match, while Barkley was substituted in the 70th minute and Mbaye was replaced in the 72nd. The key performers shaped the match at both ends.

Villa made several changes after taking control. In the 70th minute, Barkley, Jackson and Joao Gomes were involved in substitutions, and Mbaye followed in the 72nd. Alysson was part of a Villa substitution in the 75th. Viking made a double substitution in the 63rd involving Moi and Botheim, then used Daland and Tripic in the 75th and Haugen in the 86th. The changes broke up the rhythm of the match but did not change the result. Villa’s bench moves came after the home side had built its lead, and Viking’s changes came as it sought a response.

The result followed contrasting recent form. Villa had beaten Newcastle 1-0 in its previous match and also had a 6-0 win over Fenerbahce among its recent results. Villa had additionally beaten Sevilla 3-1 and Tottenham 3-2, drawn with Brentford U18 2-2 and Hull 0-0, and lost to Nottingham 2-1, Arsenal 1-0 and Brighton 4-0 in other recent matches. Viking had beaten Fredrikstad 3-2 at home, drawn 3-3 with Bayern Munich, beaten Brann 2-0, beaten Madla IL 3-0 and beaten Brodd 3-1 in recent matches. Villa’s overall record now stands at 5 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws, while Viking’s overall record is 4 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. Villa is scheduled to host Manchester City next, then Fulham, Sunderland, Everton, Crystal Palace and Leeds United at home, with trips to Manchester United, Ipswich, Coventry and Chelsea U18 also on its upcoming schedule.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Viking 2, Aston Villa 1, and its ELO system gave Viking a 59.4 percent chance to win. Aston Villa was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -2. The total score of 4 went under the over/under line of 3.5.