Unai Emery hails all-rounder Ollie Watkins after Aston Villa win at Southampton

Posted Sunday, January 22, 2023 by PA

Unai Emery was full of praise for the shift Ollie Watkins put in after he scored the only goal of the game at Southampton – but the Aston Villa boss insisted it was not just down to him alone to get on the scoresheet.

Watkins is the only senior striker in the Villa squad, but his 77th-minute header proved enough for the visitors to move up to 11th in the Premier League, just one point behind Chelsea and Liverpool.

It was a slightly controversial victory however, after VAR intervened twice to deny Saints – once in the first half to rule Kyle Walker-Peters’ final touch from a Che Adams goalward-bound effort offside, and again in the second to overturn James Ward-Prowse’s strike.

Ward-Prowse’s effort was the more contentious, with a lengthy delay while a potential foul in the build-up was analysed by VAR before the final decision was made.

After the match, Emery was full of praise for Watkins, highlighting his work-rate as much as his winner.

“He is a competitor and he is a striker and when he is not scoring he is not happy, but I am so happy with his work and how he is helping the team,” the Villa boss said.

“We need defensively the players, we need defensively to be together, long ball to keep possession and then of course when he is scoring he is helping more.

“But it is not just his responsibility alone to score, it is for other players as well.

“I am so happy with him today, but not for his goal – I am so happy with his work.”

Danny Ings’ departure to West Ham left Watkins to lead the Villa line alone, but Emery wants others to step up and contribute with goals.

“If he is scoring I think he can be feeling better and he can take confidence as well,” Emery said.

“But we are not pushing him, we are not giving him the responsibility for only him to score.

“I think other players like Leon Bailey, like (Emi) Buendia, like (Jacob) Ramsey, they are getting the box and they are scoring.

“Today his (Watkins) goal was very good for him, for the team and for the confidence but of course, because we got the three points.”

Southampton manager Nathan Jones was unhappy with the officiating as well as the VAR decisions.

“I’m not quite sure it’s clear and obvious error,” he said. “And if it’s not clear and obvious error then it’s a lot to disallow it.

“Che’s goal is marginal but we think that’s pretty correct call but I’m not sure it’s a big call to make.”

On the game itself, Jones added: “In terms of everything it’s really disappointing.

“There was the disallowed goal then to concede in the manner which we did, which is a soft goal for us due to the naivety shown.

“That’s that’s the frustrating thing. It’s something we work religiously on, something we’ve pride ourselves on being. But it’s costing us at the minute.”