Scott Hogan was Aston Villa's match-winner with two goals in two minutes to pave the way to a 3-1 Championship home victory over Barnsley.

Hogan, who has now scored four goals in his last three games, struggled in the early part of the season but he destroyed Barnsley in the opening 10 minutes to send a strong message to manager Steve Bruce that he does not require another striker.

The Republic of Ireland international was on the mark in the fifth minute when he converted a pass from Robert Snodgrass. Two minutes later the pair combined again when Hogan headed home a Snodgrass corner to the consternation of the travelling Barnsley fans. Villa allowed Barnsley to get back into the game with a goal from Dimitri Cavare.

In a pulsating start, which produced four goals in the opening 19 minutes, Villa then regained the initiative when Conor Hourihane notched Villa's third against his old club.

A confident Villa went into the game looking for their fourth successive league win to boost their promotion prospects which have certainly been enhanced with Hogan's recent goalscoring exploits.

Barnsley, with only one win in their last 12 games, were looking to improve their lowly position but when Hogan scored twice in quick succession their prospects were not very bright.

The Tykes had only won four of their last 20 away games since beating Villa 3-1 in the corresponding match last February. But they were behind after just five minutes when Hogan moved smartly on to an Ahmed Elmohamady pass to slide his shot low into the net past Adam Davies, who could do little to prevent Hogan heading home his second two minutes later from a Snodgrass corner.

Barnsley's reply was a powerful header from Cavare to convert a Stevie Mallan corner only for Villa to hit back when Hourihane latched onto a Jack Grealish pass to slot home an opportunist goal in the 19th minute.

Hogan should have completed his hat-trick early in the second half when he shot wide of an open goal from close range, while Hourihane wasted a similar opportunity.

The managers

Steve Bruce: "I am pleased for Scotty because there is no doubt he has had some dark times. He has had three or four injuries, but after scoring a goal against Bristol City (on New Year's Day) he has come alive. He has only been at Villa for a year and we judge people in football after six weeks, which is unfair.

"I've said that you need stability and need to give players time to settle. I learnt that very quickly. Coming to Villa is more difficult because of the demands and expectations of playing for a big club. We are now beginning to bear fruit for what we have put in place and there are little things that are beginning to please me as we going along quite nicely."

Paul Heckingbottom: "The writing was on the wall when we went two goals behind in the first half. Besides giving Villa too much respect, the goals we conceded were shocking and we were up against it from the start. We had four defenders back and Hogan got between two of them to score the opening goal and he was the smallest man in the box when he scored the second. We had a chance for their third and if we make such mistakes we are going to be beaten.

"I know we missed chances in the second half but it is easy to play when you are 3-1 down. I want that no fear mentality from the start of a game."