BOLOGNA: Captain John McGinn fired nervy Aston Villa to their first win of the season as they edged past Bologna 1-0 in the Europa League. They could have had it easier but Ollie Watkins missed a second-half penalty.

At least it ended their wait for a win following a week in which president of football operations Monchi departed and was replaced by former Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe.

Villa’s winner came early when McGinn struck from the edge of the box, his second goal against the Italians after netting in the Champions League last season.

Evann Guessand had already been denied by Lukasz Skorupski while the goalkeeper also saved from the lively Donyell Malen as Villa chased a second.

Yet the hosts lost their momentum and Bologna sensed a comeback with Federico Bernardeschi testing Marco Bizot soon after the break.

Skorupski then saved Watkins’ weak penalty, after the striker was brought down, to give Bologna further hope and Santiago Castro’s header hit the bar with 20 minutes left.

Bologna also nearly grabbed a last-gasp leveller but Bizot kept out Martin Vitik’s header.

Rangers upset

Rangers’ abject start to the season continued as former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu’s goal – and Mohamed Diomande’s first-half dismissal – helped ​Genk to a 1-0 Europa League win at Ibrox.

Under-pressure head coach Russell Martin was seeking successive victories for the first time, but his team were second-best for long spells against the Belgian side who missed a host of chances.

In recent seasons, this competition has brought welcome relief from domestic indifference for Rangers. But it quickly became clear even that would allude them this time.

It was another miserable outcome for Martin, who just can’t find a way to build momentum or positivity.

Rangers were already on the back foot before Diomande lunged rashly at Zakaria El Ouahdi shortly before half-time. A straight red card seemed justified.

Earlier, it had appeared John Souttar had given Ibrox the lift it needed when his angled header flew towards the net. But Bryan Heynen produced an incredible overhead kick clearance to deny him.

It was as good as it got for the Scottish Premiership’s 11th-placed side.

Oh – scorer of 12 goals in 47 Celtic appearances a couple of seasons ago – somehow missed when all alone in the area. Patrik Hrosovsky then struck a post.

Rangers then thought they had a penalty when James Tavernier’s header struck the raised arm of Joris Kayembe but, after a long review, Tavernier was deemed to have given him a slight push.

After Diomande’s exit, the drama continued when the Rangers captain lost Yaimar Medina, then caught him, and a penalty was given. To Rangers’ relief Jack Butland denied Oh from the spot.

But the decisive moment came when Oh escaped a dithering defence and fired across the exposed goalkeeper.

The Korean still had time to miss from a yard on the slide, then have another ruled out for offside as Genk hunted a second.

Rangers gamely chased an unlikely leveller, and substitute Connor Barron had a late strike brilliantly diverted away, but it turned into another night of torment for the Ibrox side and their fans.

#####