Captain John McGinn fired nervy Aston Villa to their first win of the season as they edged past Bologna.
Unai Emery’s side began their Europa League campaign with an unconvincing victory against the limited Italians.
Villa did little to persuade those watching that their early-season slump is over, producing a tentative display in their league phase opener, with Ollie Watkins also missing a second-half penalty.
At least it ended their wait for a win following a week in which president of football operations Monchi departed and was replaced by former Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe.
Villa’s winner came early when McGinn struck from the edge of the box, his second goal against the Italians after netting in the Champions League last season.
Evann Guessand had already been denied by Lukasz Skorupski while the goalkeeper also saved from the lively Donyell Malen as Villa chased a second.
Yet the hosts lost their momentum and Bologna sensed a comeback with Federico Bernardeschi testing Marco Bizot soon after the break.
Skorupski then saved Watkins’ weak penalty, after the striker was brought down, to give Bologna further hope and Santiago Castro’s header hit the bar with 20 minutes left.
Bologna also nearly grabbed a last-gasp leveller but Bizot kept out Martin Vitik’s header.
Villa find their win but drastic improvement needed
Aston Villa hauled themselves across the line for a victory that gets their season under way but they are a long way from what is expected of them.
Their last European game at Villa Park was a swashbuckling, dramatic and heroic 3-2 Champions League quarter-final second leg win over Paris St-Germain in April which pushed the eventual champions – who squeezed through 5-4 on aggregate – to the limit.
Fast forward to September and Villa are lacking confidence and conviction as they tackle Europe again.
Watkins’ missed second-half penalty summed up the lack of belief at Villa Park against an average Bologna who nearly grabbed a point, but for Bizot’s late save to deny Vitik.
They got the job done but did nothing to show they are out of their rut. A positive start gave way to a stuttering display which better and more ruthless teams – in Europe and the Premier League – will punish.
It gives them something to build on before Sunday’s visit of Fulham but the loss of form of Morgan Rogers and Watkins – both so pivotal last season – is a growing concern.
Unai Emery has so often squeezed every drop out of this Villa side since he joined just under three years ago but he needs to find some extra juice now.
The bar has been so high under Emery it is no wonder the questions about Villa’s form and performance as there. And there needs to be a drastic improvement to even get close to those previous heights.
