Ollie Watkins looked at video to identify the Everton defensive frailty that allowed him to score the winner in Aston Villa’s 1-0 Premier League win at Goodison Park.
England striker Watkins collected Morgan Rodgers’ pass and slotted past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 51st minute. Villa won away from home in the league for the first time since beating Fulham on 19 October.
“He’s a smart player,” Watkins told TNT Sports of midfielder Rogers. “I saw that they were wide open on the counter-attack.
“I saw the place, I ran into it and Morgan found me. I looked at some clips before (and saw) that they always fall.
“I knew there would be moments and space like this in the game. I just had to be patient and wait for the opportunity.”
Great work from Morgan Rogers finds Ollie Watkins to break the deadlock at Goodison! 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/k9zCee6Og2
— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
Ollie Watkins’ goals
Watkins has two goals and two assists in four games since team-mate John Duran was sent off in Villa’s 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on December 26.
The 29-year-old had come off the bench in the previous four league games, with 21-year-old Duran, who has enjoyed a prolific spell as a substitute, enjoying a string of starts.
With Duran returning from his three-match ban against Everton, manager Unai Emery had a decision to make and was rewarded with another industrious display from Watkins.
“I always work hard and run for the team” Villa’s top scorer he said after his ninth goal of 2024/25. “Maybe I’m a little too selfless.
“You have to do everything for the team. You never know when the next opportunity will come. you have to keep your mind in the game and keep that mentality.”
“The clean sheet today was very important.”
Unai Emery shares confidence that today’s result will also bring a look ahead to higher goals 🎯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/2IrV2vteR2
— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 15, 2025
Emery: Villa ‘broke the spell’
Emery acknowledged Villa’s need to “break” their “bad spell” away from home. “We had some clear chances in the first half,” said the Spaniard BBC MOTD.
We tried to push and take even more control in the second, but we couldn’t. But we scored. This victory is very important.”
Villa may find out if his travels have turned around when they visit Arsenal on Saturday (5.30pm), who they won 2-0 in April. They then travel to Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday (5.45pm).
