When Aston Villa fans chanted about going on a European tour they might not have dreamt about train journeys up the east coast to Edinburgh. But in thrashing Hibernian, Unai Emery’s side showed continental pedigree to ensure at least three more exotic away days.
Ollie Watkins scored a hat-trick as Villa hit five past Hibs just three days after thrashing Everton 4-0, while Leon Bailey and Douglas Luiz added goals to put the Premier League side in firm control of this two-legged Europa Conference League qualifier.
Emery said this week that he is taking inspiration from Villa’s European Cup winners in search of writing a new chapter in this club’s rich history, with fans still chanting about the ‘Villa boys from Aston who conquered all of Europe in 1982’.
But as West Ham showed last season and Jose Mourinho’s Roma the year before, this competition - which was ridiculed at its inception - can be a great chance to win silverware, give fans trips to remember for a lifetime and offer players the chance to be immortalised.
Longer journeys lie ahead than this jaunt to Easter Road - which sits in a picturesque part of Edinburgh overlooking the Forth Bridge and Arthur’s Seat - and tougher assignments certainly will come than Hibs, but Villa should fancy themselves to win this competition.
The bookmakers certainly do, with Emery’s side 3/1 to triumph in the final in Athens in May, and their class showed here as they romped past Lee Johnson’s side, who finished fifth in the Scottish Premiership last season.
‘We were very respectful of this competition,’ said Emery. ‘We knew before the match we had to respect the opponent and be consistent in our gameplan. The mentality I want to create here is what we did today - to be focused, disciplined and keep consistent.’
In the city bustling with tourists for the Fringe festival, Hibs put in some comedic defending as Villa soon silenced a raucous home crowd. Four of Villa’s goals came from crosses from the left and Lucas Digne registered a hat-trick of assists with wicked crosses.
Douglas Luiz added a penalty in the second half with the game long beyond Hibs, whose fans welcomed back former player John McGinn, and the Scottish midfielder said: ‘It’s the most nervous I’ve been for a game in a long time!’
Hibs boss Lee Johnson, formerly of Bristol City and Sunderland, said: ‘In reality we have a League One style budget, against the fantastic, international standard Aston Villa. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and admit there’s a gulf in class.’
