VILLA'S HOT ROD!
New-boy Simon's four-goal triumph 

Match Report by IAN WILLARS

Simon Stainrod is set to become the biggest Villa Park idol since old faithful Peter Withe. The superlatives are bound to start ring out Simon Le Bon Mark II, ramrod Stainrod, even Rambo Stainrod if he continues to display the four-goal flourish which marked his debut against Exeter last night. Villa's travelling faithful of around 1,000 loved every second of his cocky, swaggering performance from the moment he stepped out on to the field until they mobbed him as he ran off with the ball at the final whistle. It did not matter that Villa's 4-1 victory had come against a bunch of Fourth Division free- transfer players. Every penny of the £250,000 they paid Sheffield Wednesday for him would have been well spent if the 26-year-old continues in the same rich vein, especialy if his exploits bring back a disillusioned West Midland public. Stainrod was clearly impressed with his Villa team mates. "They are a good team to play with," he said. "They play the type of football I enjoy with the full backs playing the ball to your feet. "I did not enjoy it at Sheffield Wednesday. It was obvious to me they did not play my type of game. My ambition at Villa is to be a succes in a successful team." Villa's players certainly responded to Stainrod's magical start. Apart from a loose spell just after the inteval, they always looked a First Division outfit. Stainrod set it up, of course, heading a powerful first goal after 11 minutes with Allan Evans back-heading Paul Birch's left-wing corner to him. The second goal, six minutes' later, was inspirational stuff. Birch took a quick throw in from the right. Stainrod, with his back to goal, turned two defenders, and then pulled goalkeeper John Shaw out, before driving home a low left-foot shot. Veteran Tony Kellow pulled a smart goal back after a clever cross from winger Martin Ling. But Stainrod was in no mood to be upstaged. With Shaw seeming to have Tony Dorigo's 56- minute 25-yard drive covered, the striker impishly nipped in to get a touch at the far post. There was just no holding him after this and when Brendan Ormsby fired in another shot from the right after 70 minutes, Stainrod intercepted to send a looping header over the goalkeeper for his fourth. The one blackspot was Darren Bradley's 84th-minute sending off along with Exeter's Darren Gale after the two had become involved ina punch up.

Match Report 2 by GRAHAM BAKER of the Daily Mirror 

Simon roars in

Exeter 1, A Villa 4

SIMON STAINROD last night repaid the first in- stalment on Aston Villa's £250,000 investment in him by slamming four goals to kill of Exeter in this Milk Cup second round first leg clash at St James' Park. Stainrod, signed from Sheffield Wednesday two days ago, was an immediate hit. He struck his first goal after only 11 minutes and was on the mark again five minutes later to put Fourth Divi- sion Exeter on the rack. Tony Kellow got one back early in the second half-but Stainrod completed his hat-trick in 55 minutes and added a fourth 19 minutes from the end.