Aston Villa weren’t at their fluent best as they booked their ticket into the next round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.
With Villa’s clash against Bayern Munich around the corner, Unai Emery rang the changes, with Amadou Onana the only one to keep his place from the weekend win over Wolves.
Jhon Duran has been scoring goals for fun, but he has been craving that much-needed start, which was handed to him against the League One side.
Inside the first minute, Duran was already on his bike and through on goal, but his effort didn’t hit the target, which was a surprise given the form he is in.
Aston Villa pushed and pushed in what was a very difficult and cagey game, with captain Emi Buendia finally opening the scoring at the start of the second half.
You would have thought the Midlands side would have added a few more goals to their name after that, but it wasn’t meant to be.
The Premier League side were made to work for every action of play, before Duran won a penalty late on – and converted – to seal the team’s passage into the next round.
Duran has received plaudits left, right and centre for his performances this season, but he has come under fire from Alan Bazil and Dean Saunders.
The former strikers were ‘annoyed’ at how Duran won his penalty against Wycombe – which in the end was decisive because the opposition scored in stoppage-time.
Saunders accused the 20-year-old of ‘diving’ for his penalty, with no VAR in use at Adams Park, and why the official didn’t just check the replay, as he told talkSPORT (25/09/24 at 6:15 am).
Jhon Duran wins penalty for Aston Villa against Wycombe
“That was a dive, he’s a good player, by the way,” insisted Saunders. And Brazil responded: “No way was that a penalty. I’m not saying he’s not (a good player). But how does VAR get that wrong? Any VAR there last night? So, there wasn’t.”
Saunders added: “If you look at the ref’s view, he is running at Duran’s back. The linesman has to help him. It’s difficult for a referee, but it shouldn’t be difficult if you have five screens, which they never had last night. That’s the bit that annoys me. I can understand the ref getting it wrong.”
Brazil then asked: “If there is no VAR, can’t someone, another official, be watching the replay saying ‘no, no, no’. Why aren’t they allowed to watch a replay? He should be (wired up). What’s the point of VAR, then?! I am losing the will to live.”
Jhon Duran remains behind Ollie Watkins
On paper, that’s another winning goal from Duran, but his overall performance wasn’t the best and it doesn’t do him any favours when trying to challenge Ollie Watkins.
In terms of stretching play, making space for the rest of his teammates and winning more of his duals, you felt that Duran could and should have done a lot more.
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Villa play Ipswich at the weekend, before that Bayern tie and then Manchester United at home ahead of the next international break.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Watkins starts every one of those matches because it’s one thing doing it from the bench and another doing it when you are starting.
