John McGinn hopes Ollie Watkins has 'shut up' critics after goal sparks Aston Villa comeback

The England international, who missed a penalty in last Thursday’s Europa League victory against Bologna, scored the equaliser after Raul Jimenez had headed the Cottagers into an early lead.

McGinn then netted for the second time in four days before Emi Buendia scored in the Premier League for the first time in two-and-a-half years as Villa claimed their maiden league victory of the campaign.

Watkins has finished as Villa’s top scorer in each of the last five seasons but had struggled along with the rest of the team in the season’s early weeks.

McGinn told Sky Sports: "He 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."

Villa, who had scored only once in their first five league matches, netted three times in 14 minutes either side of the break with McGinn and Buendia’s goals coming within 120 seconds of each other.

It was an impressive fightback from a team who had looked shorn of confidence when they failed to win any of their opening six matches.

This victory made it back-to-back wins but McGinn promised no-one in the dressing room will be getting carried away.

”We are delighted but relieved at the same time,” he said. “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.

"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.”

McGinn continued: “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.

"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.”