Chief sports writer for the Express & Star.
With time rapidly expiring and Unai Emery’s men appearing destined for a highly unsatisfactory goal-less draw with Zrinjski Mostar, John McGinn headed home to spare home blushes and break Bosnian hearts.
McGinn’s goal very much got them out of jail and meant Emery was not again left reflecting on an ill-fated decision to juggle his pack. For the third consecutive cup match Villa’s boss made multiple changes – six in total - and again the team’s performance disappointed. Villa pushed forward and were unfortunate not go ahead when Nicolo Zaniolo met a Carlos knock down on the volley and watched his goalbound effort crash against a defender. The Italy international also saw an effort deflected into the side netting, before Lucas Digne arrived at the back post following a training ground free-kick routine to suffer the same fate as his team-mate with a well-struck volley blocked.
Ticinovic, playing at left-back but with licence to roam, threatened again when he cut inside and curled a shot a couple of yards or so over Martinez’s bar. Watkins nearly made an instant impact with a cross from which Carlos should have scored. Instead, the defender sent a free header from six yards out about 10 yards wide of the post.Now it was one-way traffic and 10 minutes into the half Villa thought they had a penalty when referee Urs Schnyder pointed to the spot.
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