EDINBURGH, Scotland (CMC) — Reggae Boy winger Leon Bailey scored for the second time in as many games as Aston Villa thrashed Hibernian 5-0 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off here Wednesday.

However, it was Ollie Watkins’ hat-trick which really propelled the visitors, the 27-year-old banging in goals in the 17th, 33rd and 48th minutes to give Villa complete control over the tie.

Bailey’s 42nd-minute header gave Unai Emery’s side a 3-0 lead at half-time, and Douglas Luiz put the finishing touches on with his 74th-minute penalty.

Only last weekend Bailey was also on target as Villa crushed Everton 4-0 at home in the West Midlands.

“I’m very happy. It’s our debut in Europe again, in the Conference League, and we’re very excited,” Emery said.

“We prepared the match being very, very serious, being disciplined, and trying to do our game plan — being strong defensively and offensively.

“At the end, the result was very good. I don’t know exactly if we deserved to win 5-0 but we deserved to win.”

Playing at Easter Road Watkins headed Villa in front from the middle box, following a delightful cross from Lucas Digne, before adding his second — another header, this time from close range — just past the half-hour mark.

Bailey got on the scoresheet with a back post header after Digne had put yet another ball into the box, and Watkins completed his hat-trick when he finished off a flowing move from six yards, soon after half-time.

When substitute Bertrand Traoré, who replaced Watkins on 69 minutes, drove his way into the box and was brought down, Luiz sent goalkeeper David Marshall the wrong way to cap off a fine night for Villa.