Unai Emery watched his Aston Villa side concede more questionable goals on home soil.
Many were hoping the international break would do the team the world of good and allow everyone to refresh and reset.
After all, Aston Villa were on a four-game losing streak and were looking for some light at the end of the tunnel.
That didn’t come on Saturday as Villa recorded a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, including Youri Tielemans watching his penalty being saved by Dean Henderson at 1-1.
What’s worse for Tielemans is that Palace would then go up at the other end and score through Justin Devenny to rub salt into the wounds.
Yes, Ross Barkley equalised in the second half to save Aston Villa’s blushes, but it’s clear for everyone to see that the team are in a spot of bother.
But not everyone sees it that way, as Clinton Morrison’s post-match analysis of the game was rather strange, to say the least.
Clinton Morrison says Aston Villa have made a ‘very good’ start to the season
With that point against Palace, the Midlands side now haven’t won in six games in all competitions.
Added to that, Palace beat Villa in the EFL Cup last month, yet there wasn’t much change in performance this time around, especially from a defensive aspect.
Whilst Villa fans wonder what is going wrong this season and how to fix it, Morrison seems to think the team is doing ‘very good’, despite sitting eighth in the Premier League table and with 19 goals conceded from 12 matches.
Added to that, the former striker thought it was a ‘good point for Palace’ because of ‘the form’ Villa are in, before contradicting himself and mentioning that things aren’t going well right now, as he told Sky Sports News (23/11/24 at 5:40 pm).
“If you asked the Palace fans before the game, they would have taken that point,” said Morrison. “But they will be disappointed at the end of the game.
“But going to Villa Park, the form they are in, I know you said that they had been on a bad run, but it has been a good season for Villa. I know they have injuries to key players, at the end of the day, good point for Crystal Palace.
On if Villa should be concerned about their current form: “A bit premature (to be worried about Villa’s form),” claimed Morrison. “They were good against Palace. They were still creating a lot of chances. The defining moment was the Tielemans’ penalty save. They were still creating chances and playing good football. The fans were getting frustrated, without a shadow of a doubt, that’s because of the run they have been on. It’s been a very good start for Villa and they have done ever so well in the Champions League. They will qualify out of that. Yes, they have some big games (coming up).”
Aston Villa missing Ezri Konsa and Jacob Ramsey
The international break proved costly for Villa, in terms of several players picking up injuries and then not being available for Palace.
Ezri Konsa got injured on England duty, whilst Amadou Onana suffered the same fate with Belgium and Jacob Ramsey picked up a knock against Liverpool last time out.
For Morrison, he thinks two players’ absences were costly against Palace, as he put forward the names of Konsa and Ramsey.
“Two players they are missing,” added Morrison. “Ramsey, who is key for them. Takes them up the pitch and can create chances, then Konsa, because Palace caused them problems with Sarr’s pace. Konsa defends ever so well and he has got the pace.”
