Villa's maybe men edge closer to finishing the job

"He's a mad man. I know he's a family man, but he is a big kid inside, a lively character and a top goalkeeper. " It was skipper McGinn who called on the squad to finish the job against Lille and follow boss Unai Emery's lead.

It was therefore fitting the midfielder scored the first goal, which ultimately ended the visitors' hopes of a comeback and sent Villa through. Emery has won the competition four times and, thanks to McGinn and Leon Bailey's second-half strikes, is closer to adding a fifth. Bologna await in the quarter-finals after they beat Roma in a thriller and with Lyon, who topped the league phase, knocked out by Celta Vigo, Villa can see their path to glory.

This month marks 30 years since Villa last won silverware, the 1996 League Cup under Brian Little, and after awful Premier League form Villa may have revived their season just in time. Aston Villa have reached the quarter-finals in major European competition in three consecutive seasons Emery became the quickest Villa manager to 100 wins with victory in France last week. Villa Park marked the achievement with fans holding up 'Emery 100' cards as the teams walked out.

He knows how to get the job done and, with Villa searching for their first trophy in three decades, the end of the drought is in sight. Villa did what was necessary against Lille, even if the performance still lacked the style, tempo and class they have produced this season. Those levels remain from their stumble in the Premier League, with just two wins from 10 games, which has added jeopardy, something which did not look likely at the start of the year.