Hibs and Hearts humbled in Europa Conference League play-offs
Hibs lost 8-0 on aggregate to Aston Villa whilst Hearts were beaten 6-1 by PAOK
Hearts and Hibernian both suffered heavy defeats as the Edinburgh clubs were knocked out of the Europa Conference League.
Hibs lost 3-0 at Aston Villa, taking the aggregate score to 8-0.
Hearts' hopes of a second consecutive season of European group-stage football ended with a 4-0 thrashing to PAOK in Greece meaning the Tynecastle side lost 6-1 across the two legs of the play-offs.
Managerless Hibs suffer again
Villa, underlined their superiority over managerless Hibs with goals from Jhon Duran and Leon Bailey before the interval.
Substitute Matty Cash struck his third goal in two games just after the hour-mark as Villa, hosting a European tie for the first time in 13 years, made it four straight wins in all competitions.
Hibs, who sacked manager Lee Johnson on Sunday after a home defeat to Livingston left them bottom of the Premiership without a point, were backed throughout by their noisy band of 2,200 travelling supporters.
But the visitors were reminded of the gulf in class between the two sides in the 12th minute when Duran opened the scoring.
The Colombia forward burst between Hibs' centre-backs Rocky Bushiri and Paul Hanlon on to Pau Torres' excellent pass and swept the ball home.
Hibs have put former defender David Gray in temporary charge for a third time and they responded through Jordan Obita's effort, which forced Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen into a flying save.
But Villa made it 7-0 on aggregate when teenage debutant Omari Kellyman laid on their second goal in the 34th minute.
The 17-year-old skipped past a tackle and slid in Bailey, who cut back on to his left foot on the right edge of the area to fire beyond Hibs goalkeeper David Marshall.
Emery, who made six changes from the side which won 3-1 at Burnley last weekend, sent on Cash and captain John McGinn - against his former club - for the start of the second half.
Cash, who fired a double at Turf Moor on Sunday, made it 3-0 on the night just after the hour-mark, burying a rebound after Marshall had failed to hold on to Bailey's fierce free-kick.
McGinn was denied a goal after more neat interplay from Villa by a last-ditch block before the home side took their foot off the gas.
Hibs, given a rousing send off by their impressive fans at the final whistle, will now focus on Sunday's league game at Aberdeen, where they will bid to kick-start their domestic season.
Hearts toil in Greek heat
A marginal offside had cost Hearts the chance to go 2-1 up at Tynecastle in the first leg before a long-range strike gave the Greek side the advantage, but any hopes of progress for Steven Naismith and Frankie McAvoy's side were ended inside the first quarter in Thessaloniki.
The visitors also lost influential defender Stephen Kingsley to injury in the second half.
There was little between the sides in the early stages, but Hearts had a warning when PAOK skipper Vierinha struck the crossbar from long range.
The home side went ahead in the 16th minute after Hearts right-back Nathaniel Atkinson conceded a free-kick with a clumsy challenge.
Brazilian winger Taison curled a low delivery from out wide and the ball went straight into the net inside the far post.
There was a strong claim for the goal to be disallowed as Giannis Konstantelias had come back from an offside position and walked in front of Lawrence Shankland as the ball went through the Hearts striker's legs. But the VAR officials decided the midfielder had not interfered with play.
The visitors went three ahead on aggregate midway through the half following a cross from the right.
Stefan Schwab got above Atkinson to head down to Brandon and the Spanish striker held off Kye Rowles and hooked the ball past Zander Clark with his back to goal.
Hearts had a chance for a lifeline right at the end of the half when Kenneth Vargas got beyond his man on the byline and centred for Alex Cochrane, who was denied by a block as he tried to flick the ball home from close range.
PAOK moved further ahead in the 57th minute. The home goalkeeper's long ball went over the head of Rowles and the ball was delivered inside for Konstantelias, who had time to mis-kick his first attempt and still be able to stroke home unchallenged.
Kingsley limped off after a lengthy period of treatment and there was a clear sign that Hearts were starting to focus on Sunday's cinch Premiership clash with Motherwell when skipper Shankland was taken off as well.
There was further misery for the Jambos when PAOK broke clear for a fourth goal in the 71st minute after Cammy Devlin was barged off the ball on the edge of the Greek side's box following a Hearts free-kick.
Taison kept his cool to slip the ball through Clark's legs and net his second goal of the night and complete another heavy defeat for Scottish clubs in Europe following recent last night's humbling of Rangers.
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