What a difference a year makes. Exactly 12 months ago today, Aston Villa were being picked off by the 10 men of a Watford team destined for the Championship.
This time, the boot was on the other foot as goals from Bertrand Traore, Kortney Hause and Anwar El Ghazi — the latter two coming after the first-half dismissal of Tyrone Mings — dispatched listless Crystal Palace.
Reflecting on the transformation, Villa boss Dean Smith said: 'We have grown, become Premier League-ready and our acquisitions in the summer have strengthened us.
'Tactically they are proving there is a growing maturity within what is the youngest average-age team in the league.