Rogers scores hat-trick as Villa extend winning run

On a night dominated by transfer news surrounding their two leading marksmen, a hat-trick from someone else, Morgan Rogers, was required to fire Aston Villa directly into the last 16 of the Champions League as Uefa netted yet another victory for their shiny new format.

- PETE HALL

Capping a memorable first league-phase adventure at Europe’s top table since 1982-83, a night full of drama ended with hattrick hero Rogers, scoring his first three goals in the Champions League, and teammates huddled around a phone to see if other results had gone Villa’s way.

Atalanta’s draw away to Barcelona sealed eighth spot for Villa – another remarkable achievement for Unai Emery. But the action on the pitch only told half the story of a night packed with more drama than a Hollyoaks omnibus.

Upon arrival at a frosty Villa Park, a somewhat tone deaf rendition of “Watkins on fire” boomed out of a fan zone across from the Holte End, blissfully unaware of the internal chaos their England international hitman was causing a few yards away.