Unai Emery bang on the money with Aston Villa selection call as Leon Bailey shines in first-half v Spurs
Unai Emery made just one change to his Aston Villa side that fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Wolves last weekend, but it was certainly a decision that was bang on the money.
The Villans took an early lead in their Premier League clash against Spurs at Villa Park on Saturday (13 May), with Jacob Ramsey finding the back of the net after just eight minutes.
But it was the impact of Leon Bailey down the right wing that was crucial to the goal and also to Aston Villa’s general attacking play.
The Jamaican was brought into the starting lineup for Bertrand Traore for the must-win clash against the club’s European rivals, and he certainly rose to the occasion.
Last week, Traore struggled to make any significant impact in the attacking role alongside Ollie Watkins, with Emery substituting the winger off at the half-time interval and bringing Bailey on in his stead.
And after a strong second-half showing last week, the 25-year-old was given the nod from the first whistle this week, and within ten minutes, he had stamped his mark on the match.
After Villa moved the ball through the thirds brilliantly, Bailey got on the ball and drove at his opposite number Ben Davies, turning him inside and out before playing a perfectly weighted cross for Ramsey to poke home.
Even after this moment of quality, Bailey used the ball wisely, recording a 100% pass success rate (9/9) and bringing his teammates into play extremely well in the final third. [Sofascore]
The former Bayer Leverkusen attacker also completed an impressive three out of four dribbles, as well as creating one big chance and delivering one key pass.
If the winger has ever been criticised by the Aston Villa fanbase, it has been for his weak physical attributes while in possession of the ball, however, in the first-half against Spurs he managed to win three out of his five ground duels.
Bailey has proven himself a frustratingly mercurial player, but the Villa Park crowd saw the best of the Jamaican in this first-half masterclass.
In other Aston Villa news, the club should go all guns blazing for a £60million signing that Gabby Agbonlahor named a “superstar”.