John McGinn's Aston Villa turned Easter Road into Easy Street in European opener

For a few minutes, they were in dreamland. The chance to scalp Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League. The opportunity to professionally 'pay tribute' to John McGinn. Then the realisation sets in.

Despite the promo, the hype, the previews and the expectation - this was actually David vs Goliath.

Why? Ex-Villa man Ulises de la Cruz became Hibernian FC's record signing in 2001 - before later joining the Villans. Ollie Watkins was signed for Villa for the price of around 21 de la Cruz's.

That man would essentially walk in a hat-trick against Hibs before departing for Jhon Duran in the 69th minute. What he led against the Scottish side was nothing short of a beatdown.

One of my preferred leagues to watch is the SPFL. I endeavor to watch Rangers & Celtic in European football. I have a huge soft spot for Motherwell. So when I try to describe what Villa did to Hibernian tonight, know that it comes from a place of love & peace.

Villa dealt with Hibernian. Hibs were a Route One Rattata frying away in Villa's Hyper Beam. Hibs were Yamucha feeling a throbbing Villan fist go through their stomach. Hibs were a Robin Reliant tackling the Monaco hairpin. Villa put on autopilot and rolled over them. They were fried. Cooked. Crushed. Unai Emery smote them to the tune of a 0-5 first leg win.

And let's be honest. Lee Johnson's side displayed true threat early on - and Pau Torres will tell you as much. Let's also be honest about the Villa. Despite showing full respect with the lineup, they didn't get going at all and still walked around with handfuls of goals that, in all honesty, have put this tie to bed before it gets to Birmingham.

Douglas Luiz nabbed a penalty, Leon Bailey scored his first away goal for the Villa. They could've had more as well. Watkins kiss the post with a rolling shot, Bert Traore overcooked his own chance - losing his feet before he could shoot - Bailey forced a save after excellently working his own chance. Hibs' best chance was accidentally walked out of play amid shellshocked confusion.

And the man of the day? He worked - hard - but went under-the-rader. McGinn got a 'pre-assist' after starting the move that saw Lucas Digne find Watkins for an opening headed goal.

He didn't get the plaudits from the home crowd mid-game that Villa fans thought he'd get, though. There's the over-sensitive theory that Hibs should've fell at the feet of McGinn, and watch arguably their greatest technician of all time roll over the club. I get the point of respect, but in all honesty, isn't it a tad misty-eyed to think that?

It's not a testimonial. It's not a farewell tour. It's a cup competition, where either one of these sides is going home. McGinn got his dues pre-and-post-match. If anyone understands his on-pitch reception - it's him.- In the eyes of Hibs fans, there's plenty of respect, but at the end of the day it's a cup tie. Both sides had something to play for.

Of course, there was more than one narrative wrapped up in the Ulises de la Cruz/ McGinn derby.

It was the Auld Enemy scrap - England vs Scotland. Hibs gaffer Lee Johnson vs Villa in a knock-out tie - after Johnson's bizarre history of statements following Villa matches.

With all that standing, Hibs, in my mind, could've given Villa a bit more of a game. Then I reflect again. I go back to my de la Cruz index.

McGinn was sold by Hibs for about double a de le Cruz. There's levels here that aren't immediately obvious. UEFA's broken coefficient system means that teams like Villa will turn up to paste teams like Hibernian - and it won't even be a Bane vs Batman style back-breaker. It'll be Bane on your grandma.

For Hibs, it was a brutal explainer of the domination of the English Premier League, where slightly above-mid-table sides like Villa with hopes of greatness can spend 4x the worth of your entire club every 12 months. Where the training ground likely cost more than your entire club has ever spent.

As a Villa fan, the club I love are in a great position to win this competition, and so they should. That makes me happy.

But arguably, clubs with the spending power of Villa should enter this competition at a slightly later stage. The gap that has been built is simply too big, and sides like Villa will curbstomp others at entry-stages. It was introduced for teams from smaller European nations to have a chance of success - not teams like West Ham and Villa to steamroll through. I won't complain, it isn't my problem to fix - but it is bizarre.

However, ending Lee Johnson's 500th game in management like that? That's a great feeling - with zero guilt. He moaned about Steve Bruce enjoying himself when Villa put five past his Bristol City side. He whined about Villa having two home goal ends at their home stadium. He says a lot of weird and bitter things on a constant basis and refuses to be normal at any opportunity. Despite all that, his sides do show glimpses of some very good football - it's just a shame he acts the way he does.

One of football's most astounding oddities will not enjoy a trip to Birmingham. As for us? We're on for a party as European football returns to Villa Park.