Aston Villa must target ‘clever’ Ollie Watkins more often after 100% first-half display v Manchester City
Aston Villa welcomed Manchester City to Villa Park on Wednesday (6 December) keen to clinch three points after stuttering against Bournemouth.
Unai Emery has worked wonders at the Midlands club, but he will have been very disappointed only to have drawn with the Cherries on Sunday (3 December).
Pep Guardiola meanwhile would have been fired up for the clash after his side drew 3-3 at home to Tottenham, who netted a late equaliser in their match on Sunday.
And despite the busy schedule, Emery was left with no choice but to start star striker Ollie Watkins once more given his superb season so far.
The England international now boasts 13 goals in all competitions following his late equaliser in the 2-2 stalemate at the Vitality Stadium.
And while he didn’t manage to find the back of the net in the first half against Manchester City, he did impress in other areas, with Watkins winning four of his six ground duels, completing 100% of his passes, making one interception and one tackle, and completing his two dribbles (100%), as per Sofascore.
The striker certainly impressed Pat Nevin at one point at Villa Park, with the pundit saying on BBC Radio 5 Live (8.22pm, 6 December), as quoted by BBC Sport: “Manchester City tried to play offside, it looked like a great line with Watkins the obvious ball to play. But Watkins was clever and left the ball for Bailey to run on to and have a shot on goal.”
With the visitors always going to be dangerous given the presence of the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez among others, getting the ball to the lethal Watkins as much as possible should be the main aim for the Villa players in the second half.
In other Aston Villa news, one 17 G/A Villa star has been “unleashed” under Emery, he must be kept at Villa Park at all costs.