Yes, David, you perhaps have a right to be rueful-looking watching how Villa broke away to score the third and fourth goals. At that time, West Ham, having come back to 2-1 following their fortuitous goal, were striving to make a break-through and a Villa of old might just have caved in.
But the Villa showed clearly that they have a superior quality stemming from confidence when on the ball, and that appeared to be the difference. Those third and fourth goals were super-confidently taken. But it wasn't just Villa's quality in scoring those goals; in the first half Villa largely controlled the match and, indeed, should have gone in at the interval two or three goals ahead, not just the single well-taken goal.
In the first-half Villa's play was patient and sometimes very piercing as they 'transitioned' the ball through. How Watkins didn't score from his one big chance, and how their keeper saved Douglas Luiz's top-corner-bound shot, are two big questions. For the rest of Villa's shots, they were mostly wastefully wide of the mark when they should have done better.
But those third and fourth goals made up for all that.
So, four home league games and 17 goals scored in the process. This is a Villa Park performance that is way overdue and I believe there's a good chance Villa will score 50 or more goals at VP this season. If we can improve the away play and the results, that would be something.
Performances from all the team were good today, but McGinn was not much in it apart from flashes and particularly an excellent ball to send Watkins away for the third goal. Zaniolo played a better team game today, but I think a fit Ramsey would get the nod over him.
UTV!
1 comment:
Excellent read, UTV
Post a Comment