Unai Emery rightly left ‘furious’ by Dominic Calvert-Lewin in Aston Villa clash vs Leeds United
Aston Villa trail Leeds United 1-0 at half-time, and Unai Emery isn’t happy at the ease of which Dominic Calvert-Lewin is hurting his team.
Detailed in an update on BBC Sport’s live commentary of Saturday’s Premier League fixtures, reporter Michael Emons has revealed Emery‘s fury at his Aston Villa defence.
Calvert-Lewin has had numerous chances to score in the first half at Villa Park, and as detailed in Emons’ update, the majority of Leeds’ openings have came through their number nine making runs through the middle of Villa’s defence.
Emi Martinez was to thank for keeping Calvert-Lewin at bay in the first 45, with Emery spotted in a furious fit of rage at just how simple it’s been for the Leeds centre-forward to get in on goal down the middle.
Aston Villa must get control of Dominic Calvert-Lewin
With 10 Premier League goals to his name this season, stopping Calvert-Lewin will no doubt have been a big part of Emery’s tactical gameplan heading into the game.
However, far too often the 28-year-old has been allowed to find space down the middle of the pitch, and should probably have ensured Leeds went into half-time more than a goal to the good.
Thankfully for Villa, they aren’t, as it’s just Anton Stach’s superb free-kick that separates the two sides at the interval.
However, if Villa don’t get a handle on the big centre-forward, then he looks likely to make them pay in the second 45.
This is a game Emery’s side can’t afford to lose if they want to stay in the Premier League title race, and so a spirited second half performance is going to be required.
Tyrone Mings was particularly poor in the first half
Returning to the starting lineup after being an unused substitute in the FA Cup defeat to Newcastle, Tyrone Mings hasn’t had a first 45 minutes to remember against Leeds.
The 32-year-old hasn’t looked like his usual reliable and solid self in the heart of Villa’s defence, albeit Ian Maatsen hasn’t offered him much help to his left nor Ezri Konsa to his right either respectively.
As per Sofascore, Mings made just three defensive contributions in the first half against Leeds, and has won just one of his three aerial duels.
The veteran defender was also unable to make a single tackle in the opening half, and so he needs to raise his levels in the second 45 if Villa are to hold Leeds to a single goal on Saturday afternoon.
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