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Aston Villa won the Cup of Traditions without conceding a goal after seeing off Hertha Berlin in the final at the MSV Arena.

Goals from Chris Samba and Gabby Agbonlahor wrapped up a comfortable win after a 3-0 victory over Duisburg had earlier set them on their way.

Scott Hogan (two) and Andre Green were the goalscorers in the first game but Steve Bruce shuffled his pack, keeping only Jed Steer in goal for both 45-minute encounters.

Glenn Whelan looked calm and composed on his first appearance in Villa colours while Jack Grealish returned to action after an extended break.

After two disappointing results against Walsall and Shrewsbury, Villa hit back with two inspired performances and now go into the final pre-season game of the summer against Watford next weekend with renewed hope.

This was a tournament that Villa needed to lift spirits.

And they were in fine form from the off.

Setting up in a 4-4-2 formation with John Terry partnering James Chester in the heart of defence, the first 45 minutes produced the best displays.

Steer made a fine save early on to deny Fabian Schnellhardt the opening goal but it was always Villa who looked most likely to score.

Ahmed Elmohamady was impressive down the right on his first start in claret and blue while Green added pace and positivity on the opposite flank.

Talented youngsters Callum O’Hare and Jake Doyle-Hayes also added youth and vibrancy to the team.

Whisper is quietly, but this looked like the perfect blend of talented moulded into a starting XI.

It was O’Hare who set up Green for the opener.

Cutting in from the right he crossed for his fellow Bodymoor Heath Academy graduate who rattled in his strike off the crossbar.

Hogan then got his break when Elmohamady showed great purpose down the right to tee the No.9 up perfectly.

Soon after he fired in another.

Doyle-Hayes slipped him in down the left and he rolled his defender with ease before curling past the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

The team was completely changed for the final but it made no difference to the outcome.

This time Bruce went with a 4-3-3 system as Grealish abnd Harry McKirdy supported Agbonlahor up top.

Samba, playing against his former team slammed in the opener when he thundered in a header from Henri Lansbury’s corner.

Agbonlahor, who was named man of the match by the tournament organisers, then added a second.

Robbing the last man of the ball, he then rounded the keeper and slotted home.

There could have been even more goals but the 2-0 victory was enough for boss Steve Bruce who was pleased with a fine afternoon of play.