McGinn: Villa deserved 3-2 win at Tottenham

Aston Villa captain John McGinn said the 3-2 Premier League victory at Tottenham Hotspur was "a relief" but insisted his side "deserved" the result, which was Villa's first league win of the campaign.

Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson and Emi Buendía put Villa in a commanding position before Spurs mounted a late comeback that ultimately fell short.

McGinn acknowledged the first half was frustrating. "To be honest, it was really frustrating in the first half because, normally, we're a lot more organised than what we were – throw-ins, set-pieces, we were a little bit ragged," the midfielder said.

He credited manager Unai Emery's pre-match preparation for Jackson's goal in particular. "Before the game, he spoke to us in detail about what he wanted, how we could maybe exploit some space. And I think with Nicolas Jackson's goal, he'll be delighted because we've worked on that quite a lot before it."

Manzambi, 20, made his full Premier League debut and became only the second Villa player to score and assist in a maiden top-flight start, following Kevin Phillips against Bolton Wanderers in August 2005. Jackson also netted his first league goal in claret and blue.

McGinn highlighted the role senior players must play in integrating the club's summer signings. "You can easily say that now after three points, but you start to think 'are the new players believing in what's made us successful over the past few years?'" he said. "So that's where myself, Tyrone, Cashy, Emi, we become important because this is our way."

The captain drew on past examples to stress that bedding in takes time. "It's not easy, but it's rewarding. And if we need to play a certain way to get points, I wouldn't change it for the world," he added.