Ollie Watkins hailed for ‘incredible’ moment that may have been overlooked in Aston Villa vs Chelsea
Ollie Watkins played a pivotal part in Aston Villa’s opening goal against Chelsea in a crucial Premier League showdown on Wednesday.
The Villans hosted the Blues at Villa Park as Douglas Luiz gave the hosts the lead inside two minutes.
Leon Bailey put the ball in for the Brazilian, who flicked it in to score his first goal since returning to Villa in the winter window, but Watkins‘ contribution to the goal may have gone under the radar.
Steve McManaman, in particular, was a big fan of the striker’s crucial dummy for the goal.
Steve McManaman praises ‘intelligent’ Ollie Watkins dummy
Coming into the game, Aston Villa were three points ahead of Liverpool in fifth place, with Chelsea just a couple of points behind in sixth.
Unai Emery knows how important it is for his side to secure a top-four finish, and the Spaniard will have been delighted with the initial start, before the Villans chucked away the lead.
- Watkins hasn’t scored in his last six games (excluding Chelsea game)
- He averages a 6.74 Sofascore rating average for the Premier League this season
While speaking live on TNT Sports, McManaman explained just how crucial Watkins was for Luiz’s goal.
McManaman said: “It’s a gorgeous pass from Bailey, and Luiz must have given Watkins a shout because Watkins does an incredible, intelligent dummy, and it’s a flick from Luiz. What start.”
Emery will be hoping that Watkins can now find his feet in front of goal, as the Englishman wasn’t short of his chances in the first half, including his overturned finish before the break.
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Emi Martinez did what he could in first half vs Chelsea
Chelsea had several chances to equalise shortly after Luiz’s opener, with Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro both coming close.
Pedro eventually tapped in the equaliser in the 35th minute, before netting another, but Emi Martinez was not to blame.
The Argentine saved Pedro’s point-blank header early on in the contest, displaying his mature skills once more for the Villans, and it’s just a shame the defence couldn’t help him out more.
| Saves | 3 |
| Goals prevented | 0.71 |
The problem for Emery was Chelsea’s transitions and the danger from wide that the Blues posed.
The Villa head coach needs to address it at the break and come out with the right game plan for a potential season-defining second 45.
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