'I've not seen Villa play like that for a long time' - Dublin

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Former Aston Villa forward Dion Dublin says Unai Emery's side "gave blood, sweat and tears" as they "blew Nottingham Forest apart" to reach the Europa League final.

Villa are a game away from their first major silverware for three decades and a first European trophy in 44 years as they look to try to stand with the club's European champions of 1982.

"The players in claret and blue put a proper shift in," said Dublin on BBC Radio 5 Live. "They did everything correct to a man and gave blood, sweat and tears.

"When you're in a position like this, you look in the mirror and say 'I need to do a job' and those Villa players did their job.

"You have to trust the manager because even though they all have individual bits of skill, you have to take into consideration it's a team game and as a team they could be a juggernaut.

"I've not seen Villa play like that for a long time. So convincing.

"Anyone coming into Villa Park with the noise [from the fans] and atmosphere would have found it hard to handle.

"It's a night I don't think any of us will forget. It's not happened in a while.

"It wasn't a given Villa would reach the final just because they're a big football club, but they worked incredibly hard and they showed what they can do.

"They blew Forest apart and pushed them aside because they want to be in the final. They said 'this is our house and you're getting nothing from us'."

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