Ollie Watkins Scores Hat-Trick Against Hibernian As Aston Villa Win Emphatically On Return To Europe

Ollie Watkins scored a hat-trick as Aston Villa thrashed Scottish side Hibernian 5-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League play-off on Wednesday.

Watkins fired Villa into a 2-0 lead in Edinburgh inside the opening 33 minutes with two headed finishes.

Leon Bailey made it 3-0 late in the first half before Watkins completed his hat-trick six minutes into the second period.

Douglas Luiz then wrapped up an emphatic victory from the penalty spot.

Three of Villa's five goals were assisted by left-back Lucas Digne.

Ollie Watkins pictured celebrating after scoring a hat-trick for Aston Villa in a 5-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road

IMAGO/PA Images/Jane Barlow

This was Villa's first game in a European competition since August 2010 when they lost 3-2 to Rapid Vienna in a Europa League play-off.

But following Wednesday's heavy win in Edinburgh it would require a monumental collapse to stop Villa reaching the group stage of this season's Europa Conference League.

The second leg will take place in Birmingham on August 31.