'Fantastic' - Unai Emery salutes Aston Villa striker after derby double

Unai Emery saluted Tammy Abraham’s attitude after the striker scored twice to help Villa beat Coventry in the Carabao Cup.

Abraham opened his account for the season with a brace in the 3-1 third round victory at the CBS Arena.

The 28-year-old had scored just three goals in 21 appearances since joining from Besiktas in January and had been told to raise his game by Emery, after turning down the chance to leave during the transfer window.

He duly responded to being handed his first start of the campaign with a double.

Emery said: “Tammy Abraham worked fantastic and he was in the right position to score goals, the first and second.

“That’s a positive for him to feel confidence and how he is giving us numbers. How we are trying to develop our structure and individual skills, today we achieved those objectives.”

Abraham started and finished the scoring in Coventry as Villa set up a fourth round trip to Bournemouth.

Ross Barkley was also on the mark after the home side had briefly drawn level through Victor Torp in the first half.

Asked if Abraham was now showing the workrate he demanded, Emery replied: “He’s working every day. He is trying to do his task with the commitment we need.

“Those circumstances helped him score those goals today. That is an example for every player.

“Scoring goals like he did today, working like he did today, winning the match collectively, this is the mentality we need.

“First the team, second the individual and commitment to work. Today is positive, everything which happened with Tammy.”