Emi Buendia and John McGinn scored second-half goals as Aston Villa’s mini-revival continued at Feyenoord tonight.
Having started the season slowly, Villa have now recorded three successive wins, two of which have come in the Europa League with Unai Emery’s men one of seven sides to have a 100% record at this stage of the league phase.
After an end-to-end first half, Villa gained some control after the break and Buendia curled in the opener after 61 minutes. Captain McGinn netted his third goal in three games with 11 minutes to go to make the points safe.
Martinez worry for Villa
Villa suffered a setback before kick off with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez ruled out after suffering an injury in the warm-up.
His replacement Marco Bizot was called into action early on but responded well with a strong punch to clear a cross into the Villa box.
Feyenoord were making the early running and only a brave block by Buendia prevented home skipper Sam Steijn from testing Bizot again.
Villa were looking threatening on the break, though, and it almost led to a game-changing moment in the 15th minute.
Ollie Watkins used his pace to get away from Anel Ahmedhodzic with the big centre-half bringing down the England international. The referee initially showed a yellow card but was then asked to go to the pitchside monitor with the option of upgrading it to a red. But after a long dialogue with the VAR, Serbian official Rade Obrenovic stuck with his original call and the former Sheffield United defender stayed on.
Feyenoord tested Bizot again after 26 minutes, Ayase Ueda’s shot cannoning back off the Dutchman’s chest. Steijn then saw a shot cleared off the line by Ian Maatsen before Ueda somehow missed the target with a free header.
Villa were riding their luck but it appeared to have run out when Ueda’s header crossed the line despite Bizot’s best efforts to claw it back. Obrenovic came to the visitors’ rescue by adjudging full-back Matty Cash had been fouled as the ball came into the box.
Feyenoord boss Robin van Persie was furious with the decision but he must have been delighted with his team’s first-half display, Bizot having to produce another smart save to keep out Luciano Valente’s long-range shot.
Villa’s class shows in second half
The end-to-end action continued as the second half got underway, Evann Guessand threatening for Villa and Steijn seeing a shot well blocked by Ezri Konsa.
Villa were offering more going forward with Maatsen, preferred tonight to Lucas Digne, making an impact.
The Dutchman created Villa’s best chance after 52 minutes, his run and cutback finding Guessand whose shot hit the upright.
And he then found himself in space inside the area but Givairo Read got across to make a superbly-timed tackle.
The away fans sensed a goal was coming and it duly arrived just after the hour mark. Boubacar Kamara won the ball for Buendia on the edge of the box and the former Norwich man took a touch before curling a shot past Timon Wellenreuther.
Villa finally had a degree of control and the second goal arrived 18 minutes later. Substitute Donyell Malen did the hard graft with a lung-bursting forward. He was eventually stopped by the Feyenoord defence but the ball fell nicely for McGinn and he made no mistake.
Bizot excelled himself again to deny home substitute Aymen Sliti a goal that would have set up a grandstand finish.
