Aston Villa 3-1 Luton Town: Ruthless Villa put the Hatters to the sword as McGinn, Diaby and a Lockyer own goal seal win

• Aston Villa dominated throughout the game and take home all three points
• Captain John McGinn opened the scoring in the first half with a well taken goal
• Luton skipper Tom Lockyer could only turn Moussa Diaby’s cross to his own net

Twelve straight home wins, 20 overall in the calendar year and a victory tally this season that is unmatched since 1951-52. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are the real deal and if the Premier League’s top clubs have not yet worked this out, they soon will.

Villa had not won seven of their first 10 league games since the 1951-52 campaign, when they finished sixth in the old Division One. 

The way they are playing at the moment, it would feel slightly disappointing if they ended this season in the same position.

Luton are modest opponents and Villa will have far more challenging days. Yet the efficiency with which Emery’s men despatched the Hatters to claim their third win in eight days proves they must be taken seriously. 

Villa are only two points shy of Tottenham – who led the table on Sunday morning – and face winnable fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Fulham before the November international break.

John McGinn celebrates his opening goal as he takes his Premier League goal tally to two

Moussa Diaby grabbed himself a goal and an assist during a stellar performance from Villa

Luton captain Tom Lockyer turned the ball into his own net for Villa’s third in another Luton Town loss in the Premier League

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Luton set up for a point but never looked like claiming one from the moment John McGinn put Villa in front in the 17th minute. 

MATCH FACTS

Aston Villa XI (4-4-2): Martinez 7.5; Cash 8 (D Carlos 79, 5), Konsa 7, Torres 8, Digne 8.5; McGinn 9, Kamara 7.5 (Tielemans 79, 6), D Luiz 7.5 (Dendoncker 90), Zaniolo 5 (Bailey 46, 7); Watkins 7, Diaby 8.5 (Traore 90).

Subs not used: Olsen, Chambers, Lenglet, Iroegbunam.

Goals: McGinn 17, Diaby 49, Lockyer 62 (OG)

Booked: Zaniolo, Cash, Kamara

Manager: Unai Emery 8

Luton Town XI (5-4-1): Kaminski 7; Kabore 6, Osho 6 (Townsend 57, 6), Lockyer 5, Mengi 5.5, Doughty 6 (Giles 79, 6); Brown 5 (Chong 57, 6.5), Nakamba 5.5 (Ruddock-Mpanzu 76, 6), Barkley 5, Ogbene 5.5; Morris 6 (Adebayo 76, 6.5)

Subs not used: Krul, Johnson, Luker, Woodrow.

Goals: Emiliano Martinez 83 (OG)

Booked: Kabore, Doughty

Manager: Rob Edwards 6

Referee: John Brooks 5

Attendance: 41,785

The home side should have been much further ahead by the break but Moussa Diaby doubled their lead soon after it before Tom Lockyer’s own-goal settled the outcome soon afterwards, with a bizarre own-goal from Emiliano Martinez the only sour note for the Villa. Among a number of excellent performances, McGinn, Diaby and Lucas Digne stood out.

Emery picked the team who destroyed West Ham here last week and they started in similar vein here. Even though seven of his initial XI were also named in the team for the 4-1 win at AZ Alkmaar last Thursday, there was no lack of energy during the early stages.

Nicolo Zaniolo should have opened his Villa account in the fourth minute when Matty Cash sent Diaby racing down the right. The Frenchman’s cross was dinked into the path of Zaniolo by Ollie Watkins, only for the Italian to slice his volley wide from 10 yards.

Watkins then wasted an even better chance. Ezri Konsa’s superb diagonal pass released Cash and Watkins looked certain to convert the low cross. Thomas Kaminski saved Luton, blocking Watkins’ first effort and then seizing the ball from his toes as he tried to bury the rebound.

Yet Kaminski was left helpless when Villa moved ahead in the 20th minute as Diaby allowed Douglas Luiz’s free-kick from the left to run to McGinn. The Scot’s had no problem escaping Chiedozie Ogbene’s weak challenge and firing across Kaminski into the bottom corner.

Despite watching their side fall behind, the Luton fans were enjoying themselves. ‘Conference champions, you’ll never sing that,’ they crowed at the home supporters, who responded with warm applause. They should have had a second goal to celebrate, too, when Watkins retrieved Digne’s cross, barged Alfie Doughty out of his way and found Zaniolo at the near post. Again Zaniolo was denied by Kaminski’s impressive reflexes.

Even though they were trailing, Luton stayed steadfastly in their 5-4-1 shape, with Carlton Morris alone in attack. Issa Kabore and Ogbene provided the only attacking outlets as former Villa man Marvelous Nakamba and Ross Barkley – who also had a loan spell at Villa Park – tried to hold things together in midfield.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are in a rich run of form and currently sit fifth in the Premier League

Forward Diaby’s strike brilliantly secured Villa’s second goal and moved the game out of sight

Yet Luton were often outnumbered inside and exposed when the ball went wide. From another Digne raid on the left, Zaniolo failed to connect with a diving header. Watkins quickly teed up Diaby for a ferocious drive that was blocked.

Diaby did not have to wait long for his goal. Four minutes after half-time, Digne’s delivery left Kaminski in a muddle and Leon Bailey – who had replaced Zaniolo at the interval – outjumped Alfie Doughty at the far post. With Kaminski stranded, Diaby struck home a sweet half-volley from 12 yards.

Villa fans were in celebratory mood by now, with the Holte End striking up with ‘There’s only one Wayne Rooney!’ after watching the new manager of their city rivals Birmingham lose his opening three matches.

And their smiles became wider when Villa scored their third. It was glorious lofted pass from Boubacar Kamara for Diaby, who held off Teden Mengi and he guided the ball wide of Kaminski, where Lockyer could only bundle into his own net.

As Luton tired, there could have been further goals on the break for Bailey, Diaby and McGinn. Luton did find the net in curious fashion when Konsa headed against his own bar and the ball rebounded off Martinez and into the net.

John McGinn opened the scoring through a well worked goal, finishing from just inside the box

Rob Edwards’ side remain in the relegation zone with the defeat, in 18th place on just five points

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