Less than two years into the job and here we are, not only playing in the Champions League but treating it as just another game, winning without any fuss. There were the usual pre-match fun and games, with fireworks and big lions; I might be getting even more cynical in my old age but Villa are putting on some seriously memorable shows for these games and if they rightly get stick over the prices, they equally deserve praise for what they’re spending some of the money on.

The team selection was another indication of the way in which Emery has overseen a transformation. Four changes from the weekend; every one of the arrivals is a regular international who any club would be glad to have in their squad. It used to happen to others.

Bologna started well and Villa were grateful to Emiliano Martinez and the linesman for preventing the visitors taking an early lead. Villa started to get on top and Jhon Duran brought out an equally good save from a Youri Tielemans corner. then almost played in Leon Bailey. There were also good efforts from John McGinn and Morgan Rogers twice, although the biggest cheer of the first half came when Tyrone Mings made his first appearance warming up on the touchline.

But for all their possession and bright play Villa still couldn’t score and the nagging doubts during the interval were reinforced when Amadou Onana failed to come out for the second half, replaced by Ross Barkley. Not that it mattered much, because Villa had started where they left off and after a couple more chances, a McGinn free-kick from out wide was missed by every player in the penalty area and crept over the line. Bologna weren’t happy as they thought they should have had a free-kick themselves in the build-up to the goal but the big clubs always get the breaks. We also, for a change, had a VAR decison go our way when the goal was allowed to stand.

Ten minutes later the oft-maligned Diego Carlos gave further evidence of being in his best Villa form, by hitting a ball out of defence straight to Morgan Rogers, who made space and squared for Duran to double Villa’s lead. He was taken off immediately afterwards but naturally, being Jhon Duran that wasn’t the end of his evening’s entertainment as he showed his displeasure by attacking the dugout.

A few more substitutions were made, including the welcome return of Boubacar Kamara and a good reception for Bologna loanee Samuel Iling-Junior, but the only real excitement was a Bologna header hitting the bar with five minutes remaining. Villa saw out the game with maturity and it seemed as though only exhaustion prevented Jacob Ramsey from getting their third with the last kick of the game.