Memorable night for Villa fans

OLLIE Watkins helped fire Aston Villa to a first European quarter-final since 1998 as the Villans thumped Ajax 4-0 in the Europa Conference League.

Goals from Watkins, Leon Bailey, substitute Jhon Duran and Moussa Diaby gave Villa a deserved victory on a memorable night for the Villa fans.

Mohamed Salah warmed up for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United with a record-breaking goal in Liverpool’s 6-1 Europa League demolition of Sparta Prague at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were virtually guaranteed a quarter-final place after their 5-1 first-leg victory, but four goals in the opening 13 and a half minutes started the rout.

The Reds were rampant as goals from Darwin Nunez, Bobby Clark, Salah and Cody Gapko put the home side 4-0 up, before Gapko grabbed his second and Dominik Szoboszlai netted in the second half.

Brighton's Europa League adventure ended at the last-16 stage despite a victory over Roma at the Amex.

A 4-0 win at the Stadio Olimpica last week left the Seagulls needing a miracle to progress, but Danny Welbeck’s superb curling strike eight minutes from half-time restored some pride for Roberto De Zerbi’s men.

David Moyes took the handbrake off West Ham and watched them race into the last eight of the Europa League with a 5-0 win over Freiburg.

Hammers boss Moyes uncharacteristically named an attacking line-up in a bid to repair the damage of the 1-0 first-leg defeat in Germany last week.

He was rewarded with a sparkling display as goals from Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen, Aaron Cresswell and two from Mohammed Kudus – including a sensational solo effort – secured a 5-1 aggregate win and a place in a European quarterfinal for a third-successive season.