Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa result - Ollie Watkins scores twice as visitors edge towards UEFA Europa League semi-finals

A brace from Ollie Watkins alongside an Ezri Konsa goal was enough for Unai Emery’s side to secure a big win in Italy.

Jonathan Rowe scored late for the hosts but saw his goal quickly cancelled out by the second of Watkins’ strikes.

Bologna started the better - and remained so for much of the first half - and thought they had taken the lead in the 26th minute.

Rowe beat Matty Cash before Santiago Castro saw his cross deflected in by Konsa but VAR ruled the Argentine was offside in the build-up.

Minutes later, Rowe got past Cash again and saw Lewis Ferguson flick his cross onto the bar.

But Villa took the lead - against the run of play - in the 44th minute when Konsa capitalised on a goalkeeping error to head the visitors ahead.

After the break, Villa pounced on another Bologna mistake as Emi Buendia closed down a clearance and allowed Watkins to slip the ball into the back of the net.

The English side dominated the second half but Rowe gave his side a foothold in the 90th minute after he cut inside and found the bottom corner with a stunning effort.

However, Watkins had the final say in the 94th minute after he was left alone in the box from a corner.

The striker took one touch in the six-yard box and fired the ball past the keeper to restore Villa’s two-goal advantage.

Emery’s side travel to take on Nottingham Forest on Sunday in the Premier League before the second leg at Villa Park next week, which is LIVE on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The Villa boss has been speaking to TNT Sports after watching his side seal an important 3-1 win in the first-leg.

Tonight's difference maker - Ollie Watkins - has been speaking to TNT Sports after the full-time whistle.

He said: ”At half-time I said to the boys, ‘come on lads, we need to wake up. We got lucky, they had a disallowed goal.’

”Back end of the season I’m raring to go. I could play another 90 minutes right now. I’m excited for the last few games."

He was also full of praise for Bologna's Rowe, saying: ”Their winger was causing all sorts of problems tonight.”

After full-time TNT Sports pundits Owen Hargreaves and Stiliyan Petrov have been sharing their thoughts on the result.

Hargreaves told TNT Sports: "They couldn't have dreamed of a result that good. The Bologna goalkeeper made a couple of mistakes which cost them as I thought in open play they were quite good.

Stiliyan Petrov added: "It's a huge result for Aston Villa tonight without having put in a big performance. Unai Emery came with a plan. Villa had to sit deep and they had to wait.

"They looked to hit Bologna on the break, but they just had to use the right moments to punish Bologna. Tonight, Emery will be flying back very happy with the result."

What a crazy last few minutes to the game! Villa were in dreamland, then Rowe made things nervy but Watkins last-gasp goal means they are firmly in the driving seat heading back to Birmingham.

Villa were much improved in the second half and have worked hard to walk away with the win.

Bologna will be ruing their mistakes and missed chances because they caused Emery's side a lot of issues.

The English side take on Nottingham Forest in the Premier League at the weekend before the second-leg next week.

Stay tuned for all the post-match action!

THE BIGGEST MOMENT OF THE NIGHT! The corner comes in and Bologna are in disarray from the set-piece yet again.

Watkins is all alone in the six-yard box where he brings the ball down and quickly fires it home.

A massive goal in this tie.

Amid all the drama the fourth official still got his time to shine. Villa win a late corner.

The best player on the pitch tonight has his moment. Rowe breezes past a lazy Bailey attempt at stopping him.

He cuts inside of Cash and whips another effort for the far bottom corner and picks it out perfectly.

Nothing Martinez can do to stop it and Bologna have a big foothold back in the tie.

TNT Sports co-commentator Lucy Ward said: "You can't say that Jonathan Rowe and Bologna don't deserve a goal. It was far too easy from Leon Bailey, he just stuck out a leg.

"He's only just come on. You just can't dangle a leg and now Bologna have got the impetus. It just changes the complexion of this first leg, that goal."

Very patient build-up play from the hosts ends in a wild outside-of-the-foot cross that sails out of play.

Villa make two more changes with Rogers and Buendia being replaced by Bailey and Maatsen.

The Villa man clearly drags his man down on the halfway line who had beaten him and enters the referee's book.

Bologna have turned the heat up a level. The are coming close to a goal but some great blocks from Villa defenders is keeping them at bay.

A big moment from the big man! Rowe does great again as he cuts inside past McGinn. He fires a wicked shot that is heading for the far top corner but Martinez gets across and tips it over the bar.

Rowe cannot believe he hasn't scored.

Onana - who looks exhausted - makes way for Bogarde with ten minutes to play.

Rowe beats Cash again and drives into the box before cutting the ball back to Bernardeschi in the box.

He takes a touch and shoots but hits the top of the post.

The Bologna winger has been great tonight but is starting to cut a frustrated figure. He teases a good cross into the Villa box but has no teammate on hand to meet it.

Martinez gathers it comfortably.

The sides have really swapped roles from the first half. Villa look assured and the likelier to score next. With 15 minutes left to play you fancy Emery's side seeing this out with a clean sheet and with one foot in the semi-final.

Watkins does some great number 9 work to win a free-kick in his half and sap more energy out of Bologna.

This game has changed dramatically since Watkins scored. Bologna have created very little while Villa look dangerous each time they go forward.

Buendia gathers the ball and shoots from outside the box but his effort was never hitting the target.

After striking late in the first half, the English side added to their lead shortly after the break.

Pobega and Ferguson - rather surprisingly - make way.

Orsolini and Moro take their place.

A brilliant sweeping move from the visitors ends up with Watkins in on goal but his touch isn't the best and he can't get a shot away before Ravaglia dives on the ball.