Randy Lerner's reign as Aston Villa chairman got off to a winning start as Juan Pablo Angel fired his side to a 2-1 victory over Scunthorpe in the second round of the Carling Cup.
American billionaire Lerner, announced as Doug Ellis' successor earlier in the week and set to complete his takeover of Villa, was in the stands at Glanford Park for the entertaining clash against the League One side.
Angel scored the opener three minutes before half-time, following up his own penalty after Joe Murphy had saved, before powerfully heading home a second after 63 minutes.
Although the victory was deserved - Angel and Gareth Barry were among those to hit the woodwork - Scunthorpe threatened throughout, particular in the form of young Irish striker Andy Keogh, while Billy Sharp pulled a goal back with a header late on.
And their positive performance was not against a weakened team. Villa boss Martin O'Neill has had success in this competition as a player and a manager and, rather than rest his first-choice players, made only one change from the team which drew with Watford at the weekend.
Full-back Aaron Hughes came in for Martin Laursen, who was rested, but was Villa defence was immediately on the back foot, Keogh on the left sending Sharp through in the first minute but goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen smothered.
Sorensen was forced to punch from under his bar in the 10th minute from Dave Mulligan's corner on the left, a minute after Olof Mellberg picked up a booking for a foul in a pacy opening for the Iron.
From another corner, this time on the other side, centre-back Steve Foster, who was in the Doncaster side which defeated Villa in the competition last season, blazed over with a volley five minutes later.
Keogh then forced Sorensen to save at the near post after latching onto a flick from Sharp, while Cleveland Taylor sent a skidding low effort across the face of the goal after 23 minutes, with the hosts increasing in confidence.
However, Luke Moore forced Iron goalkeeper Murphy into a spectacular save soon after following a deep cross from the right from Gabriel Agbonlahor.
After Moore, Stiliyan Petrov and Steven Davis had got closer with long-range efforts, Angel rattled the crossbar in the 33rd minute after an Agbonlahor pull-back on the right, and Gavin McCann had an effort deflected just wide two minutes later.
Barry skimmed the bar from the resulting corner, while Angel forced another save from Murphy before breaking the deadlock just before the half-time whistle.
Moore earned the spot-kick after 42 minutes when he chased Sorensen's long kick and was hauled down by Richard Hinds.
Like the opening period, the hosts started with pace after the restart, Sorensen forced to save from Keogh then smother from Sharp as he followed in.
After 50 minutes Murphy saved well from Moore after a cushioned header set him from a cross by Peter Whittingham, who had been brought before half-time for McCann.
Agbonlahor headed over twice from close range, while Hinds hit the underside of his own bar after Moore had sent in a low cross from the right, but the hosts continued to threat themselves and Taylor nearly bundled in at the far post after 57 minutes.
Angel headed in the second after 63 minutes from Hughes' cross from the right and, despite Sharp heading in to give his side hope after 73 minutes, Villa held on for victory. Davis also hit the upright late on.
