Aston Villa 2 Lille 1: Ollie Watkins and John McGinn put hosts in driving seat in Europa Conference League quarter-final

LILLE boss Paulo Fonseca claimed he had a plan to deal with Ollie Watkins.

But the England hitman sent the Portuguese boss back to the drawing board as he ran Lille’s defenders ragged.

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Ollie Watkins put Aston Villa in front against Lille[/caption]

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John McGinn added a brilliant second goal during the second half[/caption]

Watkins broke the deadlock with a first half header to clock up his 26th goal of the season.

And John McGinn doubled Villa’s lead after the break, following another choreographed corner routine, to leave Villa with one foot in their first European semi-final for 42 years. 

Lille did enough to suggest they will be difficult opponents in front of their own fans in their imposing Stade Pierre-Mauroy in six days time.

And they were left to rue a VAR offside call which ruled out a late lifeline from Gabriel Gudmundsson, who was fractionally offside.

But Unai Emery was able to celebrate his 1000th match in charge with the 535th win of his career as Villa celebrated their century of UEFA games with a victory.

The home side got off to a dream start and Ollie Watkins had watching royal Prince William, with son George,  leaping to his feet when he opened the scoring after 13 minutes.

Lille failed to do their homework as Watkins’ goal was an exact replica of his opener against Ajax in the previous round.

Once again Villa’s set-piece coach Austin MacPhee deserved credit as Emery’s men suckered Lille.

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John McGinn swept over a left footed inswinger from the right and Diego Carlos and Morgan Rogers manhandled Lille’s biggest defenders to open up a route for Watkins.

And the striker duly ghosted into the space they created to power his header home from six yards.

Lille’s players and manager Paulo Fonseca pleaded with Norwegian ref Espen Eskas to turn to VAR but in truth they were victims of their own naivety.

They couldn’t claim they hadn’t been warned as Watkins had already bullied Lille’s 17-year-old defender who folded at the merest of nudges.

But Benjamin Andre spared the kid’s blushes with a desperate sliding tackle to block the striker’s shot.

From the corner Watkins was denied again as Lucas Chevalier beat out his shot but Lille failed to learn their lesson as the England hotman scored from the next flag kick.

However Lille were useful in possession and dangerous on the counter and Villa had Emi Martinez to thank from a hat-trick of crucial saves before the break.

The Argentine World Cup winner raced off his line to defy Edon Zhegrova, then blocked Bafode Diakite as the defender burst through on goal.

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Unai Emery’s side will take a narrow lead to France next week[/caption]

And finally he bravely blocked at Jonathan David’s feet to deny Lille’s 24-goal top scorer.

Paulo Fonseca was booked for continuing to moan about Villa’s opener and there was a scuffle between assistants from both benches at half-time.

Apparently it carried on into the tunnel and Villa No.2 Pako Ayestaran and Lille’s goalkeeping coach were sent to the stand for the second half.

On the park Villa thought they had delivered a knockout blow when McGinn doubled their lead just before the hour.

Douglas Luiz worked a short corner with Bailey, who slipped as he laid the ball into McGinn;s path.

But the Scot was surefooted as he passed the ball beyond Chevalier from the edge of the box to find the far corner.

Lille provided a sting in the tail, though, as they gave themselves a crucial lifeline with a late strike.

Sub Andre Gomes swerved in a corner and defender Bafode Diakite tose at the near post to glance his header beyond Martinez.

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Lille pulled a goal back late on through Bafode Diakite[/caption]