Alex Moreno fired Aston Villa into the Europa Conference League knockout stages after a 2-1 win over Legia Warsaw. The defender’s first goal, on his first appearance of the season following a hamstring injury, sent Unai Emery’s side top of Group E. Moussa Diaby opened the scoring before Ernest Muci seized on Boubacar Kamara’s defensive gaffe to level. Victory came after Legia fans clashed with police pre-match, launching missiles and injuring three officers to ensure there were no visiting supporters inside Villa Park. Around 2,000 fans had gathered, despite Legia having a restricted allocation of 1,000 following supporters’ behaviour in Alkmaar, and were barred from entering the stadium, sparking a row between the clubs with both issuing statements criticising each other. There was no love lost between the clubs, yet it was a fairly forgettable game. Four years ago this week Villa boss Unai Emery was sacked by Arsenal after overseeing their longest winless run since 1992. He lasted just 18 months after replacing Arsene Wenger at the Emirates but recovered to win the Europa League with Villarreal, the fourth time he had lifted the trophy. Having taken Villa back into Europe for the first time in 13 years, they reached the knockout stage of the newest competition with a game to spare, although need a point in Mostar in two weeks to book top spot. Legia beat them 3-2 in Warsaw in the opening game in September, opening the scoring after just three minutes, but this time it took the hosts 60 seconds longer to take the lead. Youri Tielemans sent Diaby clear down the right and with the freedom to cut inside, with Artur Jedrzejczyk rapidly backpedalling, he curled into the bottom corner. Emery’s side went for the kill and Jhon Duran’s pace saw him tear past Steve Kapuadi and Jedrzejczyk, only to be denied by Kacper Tobiasz before Clement Lenglet nodded the resulting corner wide. The hosts were in control – with no Legia fans in the stadium – but Villa Park was silenced after 20 minutes. It was all of the hosts’ own making when Robin Olsen, handed a rare start, found Kamara on the edge of the area only for the midfielder to play a blind pass straight to Muci. The Albania international, who scored twice against Villa in September, still had plenty to do but kept his cool to lift a fine effort over the stranded Olsen from the edge of the box. With it, Villa lost their mojo and Legia flourished although it took until three minutes after the break for them to go close to adding a second. Pawel Wszolek crossed and Gil Dias stooped to send a looping header onto the top of the bar with Olsen beaten. The escape roused Villa and Tobiasz thwarted Diaby before Moreno grabbed the winner after 59 minutes. The left back, making his first appearance since May, latched onto Douglas Luiz’s free-kick to hook in from close range. From then, Villa saw the game out and could have even had a third with three minutes left when Leon Bailey hit the bar after lobbing Tobiasz. Read More You’ve got to dream big: Lewis Dunk eyes Europa League glory with Brighton David Moyes urges West Ham to finish the job and top Group A Tomas Soucek snatches late winner for West Ham in Serbia Joao Pedro penalty sends Brighton through to Europa League knockout stages Five bad weeks do not define a team – England’s Ben Duckett Daniel Levy ‘proud’ as report reveals Tottenham’s investment in local community

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Wales manager Rob Page has told top-flight clubs to make a move for “Premier League player” Daniel James. The Wales winger’s club career remains uncertain following Leeds’ relegation to the Sky Bet Championship. James spent last season on loan with Fulham but has now returned to managerless Leeds and the second tier, where he shone at Swansea to earn a 2019 move to Manchester United. Page said: “I do think DJ is a Premier League player and he could easily play there again. “If I’m a Premier League manager and I find out he’s available, personally I’d take him. “I’m bound to say that because I’m his Welsh manager, but for me he always poses a threat. “He still has things to work on but with the pace he’s got it is a brave team that plays a high line against him.” James cost Leeds £25million in joining from Manchester United in August 2021. The 25-year-old struggled for game-time at Fulham, making only five Premier League starts among 23 appearances in all competitions and scoring three goals. James has often reserved his best performances for a Wales shirt and started 34 consecutive competitive games before being benched for the World Cup defeat to Iran in November. “He has taken one for the team in recent months because I’ve asked him to play a different role,” Page said ahead of forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey. “He likes playing wide left and the way we play now suits us because he gives us the width on the left. “He’s that option in behind and when you’ve got a tool like that in your armoury it really is effective. “In the Premier League, and at international level, he poses a threat. It was a frustrating few months for him when I played him at centre-forward with Gareth (Bale). “Now we’ve changed and he is back out in his natural position.” Wales return to action at home to Armenia on Friday and against Turkey in Samsun three days later having taken four points from their opening two games in March. Page, who has taken his squad to Portugal to prepare for the Euro 2024 double-header, says he has felt the benefits of speaking to Warren Gatland, head coach of the Wales rugby team and former British and Irish Lions boss. I do think DJ is a Premier League player and he could easily play there again. If I'm a Premier League manager and I find out he's available, personally I'd take him Rob Page on Daniel James “I had a great chat with him over dinner and wanted to pick his brains,” Page said of his meeting with Gatland at the Football Association of Wales’ National Coaches Conference in Newport. “It’s not every day you get the chance to share dinner with a man of his stature. “We talked about how we deal with players, groups of men, and it was really interesting. “He spoke about how he deals with individuals. It was refreshing to learn it’s how I’ve dealt with individuals in the past. “We are from a similar era and share similar culture and values. When you are dealing with a player, you do it to their face.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live A look at Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City trophy haul after treble triumph How do Manchester City’s treble-winners compare to Manchester United in 1998-99? The key games that brought Manchester City a treble

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