Aston Villa's Moussa Diaby saved the day for a tearful young fan last night after the boy's handmade banner asking for the attacker's shirt was confiscated.<br /><br />Before Villa played AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League, a young fan hung a beautifully hand-crafted sign near the touchline asking for the French winger's shirt.<br /><br />However, due to a new rule in Dutch football forcing stadiums to ban fans from bringing in signs asking players for shirts, a steward walked over to the boy and took the banner away. <br /><br />Left in tears, he was consoled by another steward as the sign, which was written in French, was then thrown in the bin. <br /><br />But in a heartwarming gesture, the Birmingham club made sure the fan was granted his wish as Diaby hugged him at the full-time whistle - and his shirt. <br /><br />The boy can be seen with a beaming smile on his face as he poses for a picture alongside the Villa winger with his shirt.<br /><br />Many football fans complained on social media that it was completely 'unnecessary' for the steward to throw the sign in the bin. <br /><br />One person wrote on X: 'All the hours this kid has spent making it, looking forward and having his hopes up, brought the sign and then some man throw it in the bin.'<br /><br />Another added: 'That’s unnecessary from the stewards to throw it in the bin.'<br /><br />However, after the Villa star made it up to the kid, fans were delighted with one saying: 'Love this!' Another also added: 'Brilliant! Well done Villa.'<br /><br />Diaby has endeared himself to supporters since his summer switch from Bayer Leverkusen with his brilliant play, and this on-the-field act of kindness will only burnish his reputation.<br /><br />To add to Villa fans' joy, their side enjoyed a remarkable result against the Dutch team, as they won 4-1 to go second in their group. <br /><br />Striker Ollie Watkins continued his red-hot form for Villa, netting his tenth goal of the season and fourth in Europe this season.<br /><br />Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans put them in control at the AFAS Stadium in Alkmaar after less than 25 minutes.<br /><br />Vangelis Pavlidis wasted the hosts' best chances, but Watkins and John McGinn added more goals after the break before Ibrahim Sadiq grabbed a consolation.<br /><br />It was the second time in two games Villa had scored four after their 4-1 Premier League win over West Ham on Sunday.<br /><br />Unai Emery celebrated a year in charge on Tuesday and the victory underlined the progress his side has made, having been floundering in 14th place 12 months ago - three points above the relegation zone.<br /><br />Villa host Alkmaar in two weeks knowing victory would see them take a giant leap to the knock-out stages, especially following an opening 3-2 defeat at Legia Warsaw in September.
