Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa: Unai Emery's side end scoring concerns as Nicolas Jackson nets first goal in Champions League win

The Europa League winners had failed to score in their first three Premier League matches, having had just one shot on target, but their attack clicked in Belgium as John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and Nicolas Jackson struck to kickstart their season.

Villa had 14 efforts in a scintillating first-half performance that began with McGinn expertly side-footing a trademark first-time shot into the bottom left corner after being set up by Pau Torres' driving run out of defence.

Club Brugge's expansive approach contributed to a breathless tie and the hosts equalised when Hugo Vetlesen swept a low shot into the corner, although Buendia restored Villa's lead within three minutes, tapping in from close range following good work by Joao Gomes.

Villa threatened constantly on the counter-attack and their third goal came when Jackson ran in behind to try and latch onto Torres' long ball forward, beating goalkeeper Yann Sommer to the ball and slotting into an empty net for his first goal since joining in a club-record £65m move.

The hosts pulled one back just after the hour mark through Nicolo Tresoldi's penalty, awarded for handball on Aaron Wan-Bissaka after the referee was sent to the pitchside monitor, but despite coming under heavy pressure, Villa held on for victory.

11: GOAL! McGinn scores Villa's first goal of the season with a lovely side-footed finish.

19: EQUALISER! Vetlesen produces his inner McGinn by slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.

22: VILLA LEAD AGAIN! The hosts are level for just three minutes as Buendia arrives to tap-in from close range after good work from Gomes.

43: JACKSON SCORES! The striker caps Villa's superb attacking performance by beating Sommer to the ball and slotting into an open net.

61: GOAL! Game on as Tresoldi slots away a penalty after Wan-Bissaka's handball.

69: WOODWORK! Emery makes three subs before Villa are about to defend a corner and then Tresoldi's glancing header at the set piece is pushed onto the post by Suzuki.

82: OFF THE LINE! Bogarde is denied from wrapping up the win for Villa as his shot is cleared.

Villa's counter-attacking blueprint can spark their season

This time last year Aston Villa had started slowly but a win in Europe breathed life into their season - the same can happen after this morale-boosting display.

Villa discovered their scoring touch following a worrying first three league matches and the way in which they picked apart Club Brugge has given Unai Emery a blueprint to follow.

His side had just 35 per cent possession in Belgium yet produced 21 shots in total with nine on target as their frontline tore the hosts apart on the counter repeatedly.

Nicolas Jackson thrives on running in behind, which is how he scored his goal, while Emi Buendia's craft and John McGinn's ability to protect the ball and pick passes on the counter were mixed perfectly with George Hemmings' dribbling ability on the other flank.

The challenge now is whether Emery is willing to take that idea into the Premier League. Villa will not have the same space or freedom against every opponent, but if they can reproduce the intensity, pace and ruthlessness shown in Bruges, this could prove to be the performance that kick-starts their season.

Emery: Another step forward with complete performance

"The hard work is even when we are not winning. I am so happy today and thankful because we know how we are in the way with the responsibility we and I have.

"The players have a responsibility too, the older players need to guide to keep our standard high, to show everybody that this is the only way to achieve our targets. We are improving after Brighton and after Hull City.

"Today was another step forward. We must work hard - it is the only way. This is the process that we must try to set. Today we did one very important step forward, being resilient when we were struggling.

"The subs impacted the game well and we regained control of the game. Brugge are strong and confident here. We did a very complete match, competing in 90 minutes."

McGinn: New Villa passed test with huge win

Aston Villa captain John McGinn on win over Club Brugge:

"It was so important to show a real gritty performance and get a victory at a very tough place to play. The [home] supporters were excellent [and Brugge are a] very impressive club, so to win tonight was huge for us.

"It's a new Villa and it was a big test for the new players to dig in. It was Joao Gomes and George Hemmings' first Champions League games. It's not easy to go away at a place like this in difficult weather conditions.

"Club Brugge were pushing and pushing and pushing and we had to stand strong. We managed to do that."

On his goal: "Pau Torres made a great run through the middle and I just tried to use the defender to elevate the goalkeeper's sight line, so I just passed it in the corner.

"As I've got older, I've tried to use that finish a lot more and just place it in the corner rather than smashing it. In the second half, I had a big chance to do the same."

What the result means and next fixtures...