Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins keeps Champions League hope alive as ‘desperate’ verdict emerges
Garth Crooks has named Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins in his team of the week after suggesting that Unai Emery’s team were desperate to take all three points against Brentford.
The striker scored twice in the 3-3 draw at Villa Park, earning the home side a point which could prove crucial towards their battle to qualify for the Champions League.
With Spurs winning 3-1 against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, they moved above Villa on goal difference and with a game in hand but would be even further ahead if not for Watkins’ contributions.
Writing via his BBC Sport Team of the Week, Crooks shared: “Aston Villa took a battering at Manchester City in midweek but survived sufficiently to face Brentford a few days later and earn a draw.
“Either side could have won this game as both teams went toe-to-toe, both desperate for the win at Villa Park.
“This has not been a great week for Villa but not a bad week for Watkins whose two goals in a 3-3 encounter against the Bees keep his team in touch with the top four.”
Ollie Watkins crucial to Aston Villa Champions League push
With two goals against Brentford, Watkins put the previous four games without a goal behind him in emphatic style and there are plenty of positives for Villa to take from a game they dominated with 70 per cent possession and recording more shots than their opponents. [Sofascore]
His clinical finishing in front of goal was evidenced again as he tallied a 100 per cent shot conversion ratio, scoring with both attempts he had in the game despite the chances totalling an xG of just 0.46 combined.
He was also in sharp form with the ball at his feet, completing a 100 per cent dribble success rate, drawing three fouls in the process to drag his team further up the pitch, and completing 13 passes at a 76 per cent success rate.
Even when faced by the opposition defenders, Watkins showed no signs of slowing down, easing off, or taking his foot off the gas which is an accusation that has been levelled at Villa in recent weeks. He won four of his five ground duels and three of five in the air.
Those two goals took his overall tally to 18 goals in 31 games so far this season and with his 10 assists on top of that, he has been the talisman and the main source of inspiration pushing Villa towards Champions League qualification.
In other Aston Villa news, a new Jaden Philogene update has emerged at Villa Park.
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