Villa's reaction to Emery tongue-lashing is a start

Morgan Rogers cuts a forlorn figure after another poor display

- By BRIAN DICK

VILLA weren't lazy, sloppy maybe, laboured, slightly arthritic even, but their application was certainly an improvement to what had been served up at Sunderland.

Europa League opponents Bologna were no great shakes, certainly not as technically gifted as Crystal Palace, nor as committed as the Black Cats, but in this season that is yet to start, we can’t be too picky.

Villa manager Unai Emery will have seen some things he liked, a clean hit from John McGinn, a willingness to run channels and, at times, the attacking play from Donyell Malen.

Perhaps most pleasing was the fact Villa created chances, both in the first half and second, and while they could have leaked an equaliser, they probably deserved a second or even third goal.

Evann Guessand went clean through in the sixth minute and probably should have done better than hit Lukasz Skorupski. At least Villa got behind the defence, at least it was a shot on target.

Malen proved lively up front. Boubacar Kamara fed him near the penalty spot, a touch and a turn resulted in the Dutchman shooting straight at the goalkeeper.