Ally McCoist makes exciting claim as Aston Villa go top of the Champions League

Ally McCoist believes Aston Villa can beat anybody in a one off game, on the night they made it three wins in three to hit the summit of the 36-team Champions League table. Villa eased past Italian side Bologna thanks to goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran on Tuesday night, a victory which followed the famous win over Bayern Munich and the success against Young Boys.

Villa, under European competition expert Unai Emery, will certainly be enthusiastic about their chances of progressing into at least the next round of the competition, which involves the first eight advancing straight to the last 16 and sides finishing between 9th and 24th battling it out to join them at that stage.

McCoist sees no reason why Villa cannot welcome the great and good of European football to Villa Park, having claimed three wins without conceding a goal, and at least give them a game. The Rangers legend also noted Villa's newfound squad depth, having recently recovered Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings from long absences.

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"It was a great delivery from McGinn, he put it into an area which we've seen him do before," McCoist analysed. "In-swinging free kick for a centre back or a forward to attack, nobody gets a touch and it curls in at the back post. Great delivery. I was happy with Jhon Duran's second, proper striker goal. He gets across the defender, outmuscles him and gets the slightest touch.

"It was a good performance from Villa. I thought they were comfortable. Bologna had one or two chances and hit the post late on, but I just thought it was the perfect evening for Aston Villa - a clean sheet and another three points.

"I genuinely believe Villa on their day can beat anybody on their day. I don't think they should be among the favourites to win the competition, but however on a one v one they're more than a match for anybody - particularly here [at Villa Park]. The atmosphere before and during the game was proper. They got behind their team. You could see the players enjoyed it.

"The momentum they're carrying at this moment in time, they've got a few familiar faces back from injury. Maatsen came in and did very, very well. We saw Tyrone Mings do a warm up and get a cheer, we saw Ross Barkley come on and get game time. Morgan Rogers I thought was different class. At this moment in time everything in the garden is completely rosy."

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