Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has challenged his facet to again up their first win of the season with consistency after a 1-0 Europa League victory over Bologna.
Villa scored their first objective at residence this season after 12 minutes when John McGinn fired into the underside proper nook from exterior the realm. Ollie Watkins had a second-half penalty saved by Lukasz Skorupski as he did not open his account for the marketing campaign.
Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot was busy within the second half as Bologna piled on the strain and he scrambled throughout his objective to maintain out Martin Vitik’s header in stoppage time to make sure the hosts clung on to all three factors. Emery says his facet now have one thing to construct on heading into Sunday’s Premier League match with Fulham.
He instructed TNT Sports activities: “At residence I felt all the time right here, in three years since I arrived, robust and assured. Creating and constructing a fantastic environment with vitality with the gamers and supporters and right now I felt it once more.
“Bologna performed effectively, they demanded us so much, however then we tailored and tried to dominate and I feel we deserved the win. At present we gained and it’s important we’ve got to attempt to hold constant on Sunday. Totally different match and rival, however a variety of issues tactically we’ve got to maintain on constructing.
“At present this win will assist us to attempt to proceed working and being constructive, however every match coming is a problem, to combat to attempt to put together as finest as potential, be demanding with the gamers. This yr I’m excited, constructive and motivated concerning the Europa League, however I understand how troublesome it’s to win.”
Watkins struggles once more as Villa Park will get tense
Watkins got here off the bench within the 58th minute and seemed energetic, however his objective drought prolonged to seven video games with the penalty miss. Emery is assured the ahead will return to type, although. He added: “He labored right now like he’s (assured) and this is step one to get well confidence.
“Then he had a penalty and he created possibilities as effectively, however an important is to get well confidence and do your duties like he did right now. At present was step one and he did implausible.”
Defender Ezri Konsa admits the Villa Park crowd have been “difficult” to take care of following a tricky begin to the season however desires to make use of Thursday’s win as a place to begin for his or her season. He mentioned:
“We’re feeling it as gamers (the strain), particularly me on the again. My first season right here we went via the same factor preventing relegation.
“The gang might be actually difficult right here. The boss all the time speaks about us getting them behind our backs, you possibly can see at occasions they get a bit annoyed. As gamers we have to take care of that.
“We’ve been within the sport a very long time a couple of of us, it’s important to attempt to block it out. I attempt to keep as constructive as a lot as potential.
“At present is a win we wanted and use it as a place to begin.”