Aston Villa claimed a routine pre-season victory against Posh.

Aston Villa continued their preparations for the new Premier League season with a 2-0 victory over Peterborough United on a night where 40-year-old David Farrell got a run-out against the club where he started his career.

Paul Taylor flashed the first shot of the evening just past the post as Darren Ferguson's men made a bright start at London Road against their Premier League opponents.

Daniel Johnson saw a shot deflected over the crossbar on 11 minutes as the visitors came close to the breakthrough. Grant McCann fired a free-kick into the wall on 24 minutes and couldn't keep the follow-up down with the ball flying over the crossbar.

Weimann fired wide of the near post when well-placed on 27 minutes as Villa continued to create the better opportunities in front of goal. Paul Taylor tested Shay Given with a fierce drive moments later as Posh put together their best move of the game.

McCann and Taylor both fired free-kicks into the wall from decent positions while Newell fired wide as Posh enjoyed a good spell as the first half drew to a close. However, on the stroke of half-time, the visitors got their noses in front as a low cross from Weimann was deflected into the path of Daniel JOHNSON at the far post and he had the simple task of slotting the ball into the back of the net from two yards.

Joe Day replaced Bobby Olejnik at the break in the only substitution made ahead of the second half. Day made a routine stop to deny the lively N'Zogbia on 54 minutes.

Delph was next to try his luck, but this time the shot went wide of the target. Nicky Ajose replaced the hard-working Barnett on 65 minutes. David Farrell replaced Swanson on 70 minutes, one number seven replacing another.

It was 2-0 to the visitors in the final 10 minutes as a patient build-up was finished off by a sweeping finish by substitute Brett HOLMANN. Goalkeeper Day made a superb stop to deny the same player moments later.

Holmann was denied a second by a superb stop from Day, who looked solid in between the sticks on his first appearance at London Road for nearly a year.

Posh: Olejnik (sub Day 46min), Brisley, Zakuani, Knight-Percival, Little, Swanson (sub Farrell 68min), McCann, Kearns (sub Clarke-Harris 75min), Newell, Taylor, Barnett (sub Ajose 65min). Unused subs: Day, Bostwick, Farrell, Tomlin, Nthle, Grant.

Aston Villa: Given, Baker (sub Burke 85min), Ireland (sub Warnock 85min), N'Zogbia (sub Delfouneso 73min), Herd (sub Lowton 29min), Delph (sub El Ahmadi 70min), Carruthers (sub Holman 70min), Weimann, Johnson (sub Bannan 69min), Stevens (sub Clark 85min), Lichaj. Unused subs: Guzan, Marshall.

Att: 2,071