Danny Ings saluted Aston Villa’s reaction to their opening-day disappointment as they saw off Everton to record their maiden Premier League victory of the campaign.
Ings fired Villa ahead with a powerful finish just after the half-hour mark at Villa Park before Emi Buendía added a second in the 85th minute.
Lucas Digne’s own goal set up a dramatic, action-packed finale which saw the Villans close the game out to seal all three points.
And goalscorer Ings hailed his team-mates for the way they bounced back and responded to last weekend’s defeat at AFC Bournemouth.
“As a striker, you want to get up and running as quick as you can,” he told VillaTV.
“But, ultimately, it was about our reaction after last week.
“I thought everybody, to a man, showed that, I thought we turned up and we had to grind it out at times but to get the win is a great feeling.”
It was a triumph which came following some nervy closing stages as Emi Martínez made a string of fine saves and Tyrone Mings cleared from a dangerous position in front of goal with Everton pushing for a late equaliser.
Ings added: “It was edgy at times but credit to everybody at the back, we defended really well.
“And, as I said, after last week it was important we showed a reaction for ourselves and for the fans as well.
“And I thought we did that well.”
