Only one player truly stood out in Aston Villa’s 3-1 defeat against Newcastle United on Tuesday night.
Aston Villa extended their winless run in all competitions to three by handing Newcastle only their second away victory of the season.
In truth, Unai Emery’s side never got going in the contest and the visitors capitalised on how they were set up tactically.
Villa’s narrow 4-2-2-2 formation was outsmarted by Eddie Howe for the second time this season as the Englishman instructed to loft balls over the top of their opponent’s defence.
This worked a treat against Emery’s high line with the blistering pace of Anthony Gordon causing huge problems in-behind.
The Villa manager seemingly didn’t learn his lesson from the reverse fixture and they found themselves 2-0 down in the first half as Fabian Schar scored twice from a corner.
An unfortunate own goal from Alex Moreno early into the second half then gave the Toon clear daylight before substitute Leon Bailey gave them a glimmer of hope.
How did Leon Bailey perform against Newcastle?
Bailey would have been bitterly disappointed to have been left out of the starting XI, but when he replaced Moussa Diaby – who struggled on the night – he certainly showed Emery what he was missing out on.
The fleet-footed Jamaican made an instant impact by injecting a bit of pace into Villa’s attack and ran Dan Burn ragged in the right channel.
This is how he created the Villans’ goal by taking an excellent touch before flashing an inch-perfect cross into the path of Watkins who slammed into the back of the net.
Speaking on TNT Sports commentary of the match, Ally McCoist praised Bailey for his brilliant work for the goal and making an instant impact.
He said: “I’ve got to say the touch and the cross from Bailey is tremendous. Looks as though he’s timed it to perfection, lovely touch, brilliant ball in it really is. That’s a terrific touch and a great cross”
McCoist wasn’t the only person who waxed lyrical over his performance.
On Sky Sports coverage of the match, former Arsenal and Villa player Paul Merson said: “Since Bailey has come on, he’s changed the game. Great ball through to Watkins.”
Bailey simply has to start
Emery will be going to bed tonight thinking what could have been if he started Bailey on the right flank.
Despite only playing for half an hour, he was by far Villa’s best player on the pitch and how he created the goal for Watkins was a rare bit of quality that the hosts produced.
The 26-year-old now has six goals and six assists in 20 top-flight appearances this term and he simply looked electric off the bench.
He entered the pitch when Villa were crying out for some pace, quick feet and an end product in the final third.
It is fair to say that Bailey provided that in abundance and although Emery’s side lost comfortably, the Jamaican has done all he can to start against Sheffield United on Saturday.
