Unai Emery knows that Ollie Watkins can cope with the pressure of being Aston Villa’s primary source of goals in the wake of Danny Ings’ Villa Park exit – but he has urged Watkins’ attacking colleagues to weigh in with their own contributions between now and the season’s end. Again, Emery was left pleased with Watkins’ all-round performance on the south coast, and he senses that the striker thrives on the idea of being Villa’s single talisman, but he wants those around him to continue chipping in when possible.
Unai Emery said: “It is a good pressure for him, if he is feeling it. He can feel our support and his team-mates support. He has responsibility as well to do his work and if he is scoring he can be feeling better and take confidence. We are not giving him the sole responsibility. Other players like Leon Bailey, Emi Buendia and Jacob Ramsey get in the box and can score. His goal today was very good for him, for the team and we got the three points. He’s a competitor, and he’s a striker, so when he’s not scoring he’s not happy, but I’m so happy with his work and how he’s helping the team. Offensively we needed to press, we needed to be together, we needed to keep possession of the ball from our long balls. Then when he scores he’s helping more, but it’s not his responsibility alone to score our goals. It’s on other players as well. I am so happy with him today, not just for his goal – of course it’s the difference – but his overall work.”
Villa might’ve been behind well before they edged in front – James Ward-Prowse’s goal was chalked off after a VAR check and Che Adams’ first half effort was flagged for offside – but generally they were good value for this victory on the balance of play and chances created. With a little over ten minutes to go, though, you’d have been forgiven for thinking that this game was going to peter out into a draw and that Villa would’ve passed up an opportunity. Watkins ensured that that wouldn’t be the case and that Villa would reward themselves, but prior to the breakthrough Emery and the Villa supporters behind the goal were required to be patient.
Unai Emery said: “The last match we won away against Brighton and Tottenham were different because we needed to defend a lot. We needed to work without the ball and needed to be good. Today we played with more possession. They were trying to recover the ball in the middle and have good transitions but we didn’t allow it. We were in their box more than they were in ours. When they made the substitutions the impact was good and we changed something as well in our shape. We recovered again control, scored and I think we deserved. Southampton, the last matches and today, they are improving.”
