What a response from the Aston Villa players!!!
On Thursday night, Aston Villa fans would have been down in the dumps after opening their Europa Conference League campaign with a 3-2 defeat to Legia Warsaw.
But when a defeat hits the table, the first thing the players want to do is get back out on the pitch, as soon as possible, to rectify that loss and that’s exactly what happened at Chelsea on Sunday.
Despite Unai Emery’s side having minimal time to prepare for their Stamford Bridge trip, Aston Villa recorded a deserved 1-0 win, with Ollie Watkins netting the winner in the second half.
It was Watkins’ first Premier League goal of the new season and he posted on Instagram that it was an ‘unreal shift from the boys’.
Perhaps the most pleasing thing of all was the clean sheet because, given the number of goals that have been conceded on the road already, that was much-needed.
That’s where Emiliano Martinez deserves credit because he pulled off a number of high-quality one-v-one saves to keep Villa in the game, and in the end, allow Watkins to put the cherry on top of the cake.
“Unreal shift from the boys to get three points,” wrote Watkins on his IG “And unbelievable support on the road as always! UTV.”
Watkins needed that goal
In terms of performances, you can’t fault Watkins, he has been brilliant and has been leading the line very well.
It’s just a case of that killer instinct, that final finish and goal needed to his season going.
Well, after six Premier League games, he has finally broken his duck for this term and now the Villa Park faithful will be hoping he goes on one of his runs.
It’s Everton up next in the League Cup followed by Brighton in the Premier League – both home ties.
Yes, the fixture list is packed for Villa, but it would be very tempting to start Watkins in both of those matches so he doesn’t lose momentum.
