John McGinn celebrates with a late header to give his team the lead. Photo: Reuters/Molly Darlington Aston Villa 1-0 HSK Zrinjski
Unai Emery's Aston Villa continue to baffle their fans with outstanding league performances and losing cup competitions.
The Prince of Wales was present at the event and was one of those fans who wondered how Emery's side could falter so much in the game until John McGinn's late header spared a deeper investigation.
Sensational performance against Brighton last Saturday with six goals. Destruction -1, Villa played poorly at home to Everton in the League Cup last week, and here's another average result.
HSK Zrinjski frustrated his hosts for a long time until their resistance was finally put to rest broken when McGinn directed a header past Marko Maric in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Emery has won four European trophies, but this competition is proving challenging as he changes his squad.
Aston Villa' John McGinn scored his team's only goal in the game with a header. Photo: PA/Tim Goode
These matches clearly highlight Villa's lack of depth as the fringe players given opportunities here failed to capitalize on their chances.
The only guarantee is that Emery's side will be dramatically different in Sunday's derby with Wolves.
Emery said: “We have to try to reach our level by playing different players.
“I hope we can create a team with everyone and do something in this competition.
“This is the third time I have met the prince, and when he comes here, we are very grateful.”
It was Villa's first win in a European group match since November 2008, when Martin O'Neill's side defeated Slavia Prague in the then UEFA Cup.
After a surprise defeat in Warsaw last month, victory was required against the Bosnian champions, whose manager Krunoslav Rendulic described the encounter as «the greatest game in the club's history».
And yet, although Emery is the undisputed master of European competition, he He has made no secret that the Premier League is his priority this season.
With Manchester United and Chelsea struggling to breathe life into their seasons, Emery saw an opportunity to secure his place. in the top five and guarantee football in the Champions League.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery gestures in his technical area. Photo: Reuters/Molly Darlington
His side were far from full strength, with Ollie Watkins coming on as a substitute hours after being recalled to the England squad.
Nicolo Zaniolo created Villa's best chance to an unsuccessful first half with a spectacular overhead kick, which was saved by Marko Maric, Zrinjski's goalkeeper. .
Emery had seen enough, making a triple change at half-time with Watkins, Douglas Luiz and Matty Cash.
The changes led to an improvement and Villa were denied a penalty in the 55th minute after Swiss referee Urs Schneider was looking at Matija Malekinusic's supposed handball play on his monitor.
Frustration then began to set in, but McGinn rewarded them with relentless pressure that sparked scenes of wild celebration.
Match details
Villa (4- 2-3-1): Martinez 6; Konsa 6, Carlos 5 (Traore 82), Lenglet 5, Digne 5 (Cache 46); Dendoncker 4 (Douglas Louis 46), Tielemans 4; Bailey 5, McGinn 7, Zaniolo 5; Durant 5 (Watkins 46). Subs: Olsen (w), Marshall (w), Torres, Chambers, O'Reilly. Booked: McGinn, Cash.
Zrinjski (4-2-3–1): Maric 7; Corluka 7, Jakovljevic 7, Senic 7, Ticinovich 6 (Memiya 73); Canada 7 (Zlomislic 73), Radić 6; Hrvanovic 5 (Malekinusic 46), Ivancic 6 (Kozul 62) Kuze 6; Bilbia 6 (Kis 77). Subs: Sefo (w), Nir On (w), Marin, Sablits, Balic, Misic, Prskalo. Warning: Hrvanovic, Bilbia.
Referee: Urs Schneider (Switzerland)
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