Aston Villa endured a torrid last day of the Premier League season as they were thrashed 5-0 by Crystal Palace.
Whilst the defeat at Selhurst Park was something of a humiliation, Aston Villa‘s qualification for the Champions League earlier in the week meant their work for the season was done.
A hat-trick from the red-hot Jean Mateta as well as a brace from Eberechi Eze ensured that Palace ended the season with a remarkable run of six wins and one draw in their last seven games.
For Villa, it was an afternoon to forget and, with so much history made this season, that shouldn’t be hard to do.
Ollie Watkins was unable to score his 20th league goal of the season as Villa drew a blank, meaning he did not become the first player since Peter Withe in 1980/81 to hit 20 in a top flight season for the club.
However, the 28-year-old did not end the season empty handed, as he picked up the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award.
Ollie Watkins Premier League’s best provider
Watkins enjoyed the best season of his career this campaign, scoring 27 goals in all competitions.
What makes this ever more impressive is that the striker does not take penalties for Unai Emery‘s side, with Douglas Luiz instead entrusted with that responsibility.
To add to his 19 goals in the league this campaign, Watkins has shown an unselfish side too as he has provided a league-best 13 assists.
Cole Palmer’s assist for Raheem Sterling’s goal in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday meant the 22-year-old overtook both Watkins and Erling Haaland’s total of 32 goal contributions in the league.
However, Palmer registered 11 assists to Watkins’ 13, meaning the Villa man was presented with the Playmaker of the Season award first given in the 2017/18 season.
Watkins in prestigious company with playmaker award
Given the award’s short history, Watkins has become just the fifth winner of the award for the Premier League’s chief provider.
He joins an elite list, too, with the previous four winners Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah.
- READ MORE: Jamie Carragher picks £130k-a-week Aston Villa ace in Team of the Season over Man City star
Unsurprisingly, De Bruyne has won the award on three occasions, first in its inaugural year and then again in the 2019/20 season, as well as last campaign.
Hazard picked up the award in 2018/19, with Kane winning in 2020/21 and Salah in 2021/22.
The 13 assists it took for Watkins to scoop the award is the joint-lowest tally to be enough to secure the prize, with Salah also winning with 13 assists two years ago according to Transfermarkt.
However, Watkins won’t care one bit as he has earned his place in Premier League history.
