21/04/2025

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SCAN ME

SCAN ME

MONDAY | APR 21, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (top) shoots at the goal during his team’s Premier League match against Newcastle. – REUTERSPIC

today and I want to play in those games. “The manager is going to have a headache as I’m banging on the door asking why I’m not playing,” Watkins said. When asked about Watkins’ comments Emery replied: “It’s fantastic to be angry and fantastic for him to play like he did against Newcastle.” Yet his was the right response. Recalled, he was remarkable, scoring in the first minute, hitting the woodwork in the fifth and again within half an hour. Villa were ahead in 33 seconds. Sandro Tonali, who so often sets the right tone, set the wrong one, gifting possession to the terrific Youri Tielemans. He found Watkins, whose shot deflected in off Schar and enabled him to equal Gabriel Agbonlahor’s club record of 74 Premier League goals. Watkins was inches from a hattrick, rattling the bar with a rising shot, hitting the post when left unmarked to head Asensio’s freekick. It was an eloquent message that he should not be omitted again. Watkins was substituted in the 82nd minute, by which point Villa were already 4-1 up and Villa Park was chanting his name. Ex-Aston Villa defender Dion Dublin, told BBC Match of the Day : “I am delighted, why wouldn’t be fuming? You can imagine his frustration. Be honest and tell people what you think.” Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp said Watkins’ performance was “dynamite” and believes the striker “has turned a massive negative into a positive”. Watkins’ goal means he is the first

starting 11, two of those he brought in, Ollie Watkins and Ian Maatsen, scored. When he made a double substitution, Jacob Ramsey promptly set up the third goal and Amadou Onana scored the fourth, one and three minutes after coming on respectively. Newcastle had the throwback tactic of naming the same 11 for a seventh consecutive game. There was no seventh straight win. “Maybe today was a step too far for us,” said stand-in boss Jason Tindall. “Maybe a third game in six days caught up with us around about the hour.” After Newcastle inflicted 4-1 and 5-0 thrashings, they were subjected to a 4-1 drubbing. If they missed the absent Eddie Howe, watching this may not aid his recuperation.

A STON VILLA could bounce from the Champions League straight back into the Champions League. Four days after being knocked out, they scored four goals to take a giant stride towards a swift return. Newcastle United were last season’s upstart conquerors of Paris Saint Germain and arguably the form team in England. They left Villa Park vanquished, their own chances of a top-five finish diminished as they were dismantled. Overpowered by Villa on the day, the danger is that they will be overtaken in the run-in. “We are in our best moment,” said Unai Emery. For Villa, fresh from

Villa show off their key advantage to ignite Champions League charge ‘Dynamite’ Watkins

The realist in Howe will know it could have been far worse. Villa hit the woodwork three times, drew three fine saves from Nick Pope and saw Marco Asensio miskick in front of goal. Villa had 23 shots. It felt they had even more. Above all, they – particularly a defence featuring three thirty somethings – suffered at the hands of a man with a point to prove. A catalyst in Villa’s rise, Watkins was benched for both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal. “I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games,” he said. “I am not going to lie, I was fuming that I wasn’t playing. I let him (Emery) know that. “He’s the manager, you have to respect his decision, but I am not one of these players happy to sit on the bench. “It is something I have not experienced before, to miss out on the biggest stage. I wanted to be out on the pitch for much longer. I have played a big part to get to where we are

beating the potential Champions League winners, one seminal week may be leading to another. With Manchester City next, with an FA Cup semifinal on April 27, a team with 10 wins in 11 games have momentum and strength in

d e p t h . Newcastle’s first defeat since the time when they had not won a trophy in decades came courtesy of Villa’s squad and Emery’s brilliance in using it. When he made four changes to the

Villa player to score 15 or more times in three consecutive Premier League seasons. – The Independent/Agencies

- Story on page 29

- Story on page 30

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