Aston Villa 1-0 Bologna result - John McGinn secures first win of season for Unai Emery's side

John McGinn got Aston Villa off to a winning start in the Europa League, with his first-half goal enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Bologna.

The skipper's brilliant 20-yard drive was enough to seal all three points at Villa Park, despite Ollie Watkins having a penalty saved.

Unai Emery's side were yet to win a match in all competitions this season, but made a bright start with Evann Guessand calling Lukasz Skorupski into action following a strong run after just six minutes.

Villa then broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, with McGinn drilling from just outside the box after Bologna failed to deal with a neatly worked short corner.

Skorupski denied Donyell Malen a second goal soon after, before the hosts were handed a golden opportunity to double their lead in the 68th minute when Martin Vitik tripped Watkins in the box.

However, the forward's goal drought continued as Skorupski's outstretched legs kept out his tame penalty.

Bologna almost punished Villa immediately with Santiago Castro heading Riccardo Orsolini's header against the crossbar.

Emery's side survived another scare late on, with Marco Bizot clawing away Vitik's looping 96th-minute header to preserve all three points.

"It’s a collective responsibility; we’ve not been good enough, it’s as simple as that. Nothing more to it," he tells TNT Sports of Villa's difficult start to the season.

"As professionals, we can take the praise when it comes; we’ve had a lot of praise over the last few seasons, and we’re rightly being criticised at the minute.

"We know how important the league is now."

We have less than 48 hours to wait for more live action, as Brentford welcome Manchester United to the Gtech Community Stadium.

The match will be available to watch and stream live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Unai Emery's side were still seeking their first victory of the season in all competitions, while their efforts up to that point had yielded just one goal.

Nevertheless, Aston Villa did not look like a team who were struggling for confidence and form as they made a confident start, which resulted in John McGinn drilling them ahead with a superb 20-yard strike.

Nevertheless, despite plenty of positive play, the second goal eluded the hosts, while Ollie Watkins' drought continued as he failed from the penalty spot.

The forward is now without a goal in his last 10 matches for club and country, and that lack of belief was evident in his tame spot-kick.

However, Villa survived - despite Bologna hitting the bar and going close deep into stoppage time - and that wait for a win is finally over.

Aston Villa 1-0 Bologna

Bologna push for a last-gasp equaliser and Freuler's cross is flicked towards the far post by Vitik.

Bizot has to track the flight of the ball all the way, before clawing it away to safety.

Villa survive and the final whistle sounds.

Villa counter and Watkins is one-on-one with Vitik.

The forward looks to cut inside and shoot, but the defender deflects his effort behind for a corner.

The fourth official indicates a further five minutes will be played at the end of this game.

The hosts continue to push to double their lead.

However, strong defending from Bologna prevents Digne and Sancho from getting clear shots on goal.

Villa look for the second goal to give them breathing space.

Sancho has the opportunity to drift inside and shoot, but his fierce drive is off target.

The visitors make their final changes of the game.

Dallinga and Fabbian enter the fray, with Castro and Odgaard making way.

Bologna are seeking their first European victory against an English opponent in six attempts.

Their last such triumph came courtesy of a 1-0 win over Leeds United in the 1966-67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

More activity on the hosts' bench, with Digne replacing Maatsen at left-back.

Moments after Bologna make a triple-change, the woodwork comes to Villa's rescue!

Orsolini, one of those substitutions, is immediately involved by whipping in a cross from the right flank.

It connects with the head of Castro, but he clips the top of the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.

Watkins' drought goes on!

The forward is without a goal in his last eight games for Villa.

His lack of confidence is evident as his tame kick is saved by the trailing legs of Skorupski.

Bologna are sloppy in possession and Maatsen slides Watkins in behind the defence.

The striker is brought down by Vitik, who is subsequently booked as the referee points straight to the spot.

Vitik follows suit for Bologna at the other end, with a firm sliding challenge to prevent Watkins from tucking in Guessand's low cross at the near post.

Bologna go on the attack down the right flank, and cut the ball back into the box.

However, Konsa and Cash make strong blocks to deny Castro and Cambiaghi respectively, before the offside flag eventually goes up.

Emery turns to the bench and makes a couple of alterations for Villa.

Malen and Buendia are given a rest, with Watkins and Sancho coming on to replace them.