3-1

"It is an incredible feeling.

"I think every time you step out on the pitch and especially starting the game it's a wonderful feeling. To be at home today in front of home supporters I am so excited.

"Results have not gone our way, but today is a great place and position to go out and put it right.

"Finding the spaces where I can find the ball, most importantly, bringing the forward players involved.

"Defensively I need to be at it today as Fulham are a great side with a great gameplan. They will want to come here and want to win."

**Harvey Elliott, pre-match.**



“I have given them a goal and a point here, but I am not entirely sure why.”

**Former Villa centre-forward Chris Sutton on Villa’s chances.**



"Good afternoon, we are happy to play here at Villa Park. We get a lot of energy off the supporters and we are feeling strong, but we have to keep consistency.

"Play with energy, intensity and play intelligently with our head. Of course, that is the challenge today."

"Of course, he [Harvey Elliott] needed to adapt fast. Today is an opportunity to show how he has grown in his adaptation. He has experience in the Premier League to play matches like today. He has the habit to play, and hopefully he can feel strong, confident and comfortable in his position.

"Of course, he has to work a lot today as we need all the players working hard."

"Keep calm and keep being consistent. Always looking forward. Of course, not being frustrated and he [Morgan Rogers] is going to recover his good performances."

"He [Marco Silva] is a very good coach. He demands a lot, and I am always challenging myself playing against him."

**Unai Emery, pre-match.**



“I think when I was younger, where I struggled was with the tactical element.

“When Pep came to England, everyone became tactically obsessed.

“Football became a bit of a chess match. A lot was played on paper and before the game in preparation of how to actually set up on the pitch.

“Whereas, this manager is nothing like that. We have to be right tactically, and have positions, don’t get me wrong, but at the same time it is about us and showing our qualities.

“Whether it’s me or the next person, if they are playing, the manager wants to show what they’re about. When you get on the pitch, you get to show what your capabilities are.

“In this day and age it is more about where I receive the ball and where I am getting it.

“Honestly, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Different games pose different problems. I think I probably got more comfortable as a number 10

“However, I’m not a typical number 10 to what the majority of the characteristics they have are. My characteristics probably suit a winger more, but I prefer to be in the central areas and to receive the ball in central areas and driving down the middle of the pitch.

“I’m so comfortable to play in different positions because I played as a winger, and then got moved centrally not long ago. I’m really happy to play anywhere—I can play deeper or further forward.

“As long as I’m on the pitch and playing to the best of my ability, that’s all that really matters to me.”

**Morgan Rogers on Unai Emery.**



“Just to feel the freedom between the lines and find spaces. The first action I found McGinn with the ball and he scored a beautiful goal. Then we have the momentum and we scored quickly. It felt really good coming off from the bench, I try to help the team as much as possible.

"Of course, it is really amazing. First Premier League goal in years, with the injury and a few years I had a few low moments. I worked hard to be back here again so I am really happy."

**Emiliano Buendia, post-match.**



"Delighted but relieved at the same time. It has been a very poor start to the season. To lose here 3-0 in the last home game was tough to take. We actually started well and then we reacted really well to conceding at the corner.

"It is not an easy place to play when the crowd are on your back but then when you get momentum, what a place it is to play. It was important to show belief and confidence in each other. What a win and what a huge show of character for us."

"He [Ollie Watkins] has had a lot of criticism in recent weeks but what he will get from us as team-mates and staff is love and support. What he has given us in recent seasons is nothing short of brilliant.

"He always has a spell in the season when it doesn't quite click for him but he runs a lot and he works hard and then when he gets the ball you expect that he will score. Hopefully that shuts a few people up."

"It can change quickly but we are not getting carried away. We have turned a little corner the last few games but that doesn't mean anything. It's about recovering now and then back here next Sunday to try and pick up another win in the league."

**John McGinn, post-match.**



"Happy and overall we kept the consistency we achieved on Thursday and we started today a little bit under our energy. We conceded one goal and it was again. a very difficult moment but reacted. Winning duels and recovering the ball as high as possible and then we were being aggressive. I think today the result we did come back was through our energy and wishes to come back.

"He [Ollie Watkins] is very important for the team because he was not scoring goals. We needed goals through Watkins, Buendia and McGinn. Today, with our supporters, we need to connect here and bring the energy. I think our results are bringing balance. We are not where we want to be but this result will hopefully help us get better. How the players are connecting and adapting is important.

"Keep going, for him and I change him more tactically because Emiliano Buendia is giving us energy and his adaptation is better than Elliott. He needs time, Elliott. Emiliano did fantastic.

"We draw three matches away and it was not the worst and as well not the best. I told you we were improving and getting better but we needed to improve things. Today we did it. Of course, now, we are playing in Feyenoord on Thursday and we have the opportunity to get confidence and it is another opportunity and challenge. And then we can keep being consistent at home and keep adding more players in our structures. Sancho was feeling sick before the game so that is why he was not on the bench but he will be important for us. We will add other players in as well with their qualities."

**Unai Emery, post-match.**



"It feels nice. Obviously with Wolves drawing yesterday, you have your eyes on the table a little bit but we're starting to play a lot better.

"Today was so, so important. We actually started the game pretty well but we conceded the set piece. You have a moment there when you can starting feeling the pressure and crumble but everyone put in an outstanding effort and it's a huge three points."

"We've been praised a lot the past few seasons so, as a footballer, you take the highs and the lows and you have to take the criticism on the chin. It's been deserved, we've not been good enough.

"But today and Thursday night is a lot more like ourselves. We know we're still a good team and a team that teams don't enjoy playing against - and today we showed that in abundance."

"Not quite, we're on our way and improving. The manager touched upon that last weekend, a disappointing point against Sunderland but more signs we were coming back. We deserved to win on Thursday and today was a huge effort.

"Bologna make you run and it was a quick turnaround so there were a few tired bodies out there, including me, but everyone put a shift in and that's what it's going to take.

"I actually considered coming off at half-time because I couldn't run properly. It was my own fault, I fouled Andersen in the corner and got a whack. But thankfully I stayed on and played through the pain barrier. Hopefully I'll be fine for Thursday."

**John McGinn, post-match.**



"To win is the consequence of how you are building the team, how you are individually and tactically as well, being consistent and being demanding.

"We are getting better. We started [the season] so, so poor but then after the break we draw with Everton, Sunderland and Brentford. We were more or less getting balanced but not enough, performing better but not enough.

"We needed to improve some things, not just tactically, and on Thursday we did that and today as well. We reacted fantastically to conceding the goal. We showed energy, collectively and individually.

"Progressively, we are getting better and those points will hopefully help us to be more consistent for the next matches.

"We are looking forward and trying to get better at everything. We started poor but I don't know why. In the first 15 minutes, we conceded one goal and we weren't playing.

"But it was important how we drew level in the match and started playing to our gameplan. Then in the second half we were really pushing with energy, scored two goals and after we controlled the game.

"Today was very important to try and feel confidence through the result.

"Hopefully it can help us and we can keep going. Getting the points like we did helps us to feel confident and we can get better in the table and we have to try to reach the level we achieved last season.

"Happy winning, happy for the players, happy for goalscoring players, Emi Buendia and John McGinn as well. Happy because we conceded one goal then we defended well."

"Transfer window finished one month ago. Emiliano is showing his wishes to help us and his quality. Hopefully he is going to be very important, he is playing minutes, getting confidence, understanding tactically how we want to play. Fantastic for him and the team."

"I don't know. [Tyrone Mings] Injured but I don't know which injuries."

**Unai Emery, post-match.**