Villa stuck in a rut and Gerrard gets prickly
STEVEN Gerrard said he could not call himself ‘disappointed’ with a first away point of the season. Almost the entire second half against 10 men? He should have been.
Fast approaching a year in charge, the jury tasked with determining the merits or otherwise of the Aston Villa manager remains split. On this evidence, they will not be returning a verdict any time soon.
Villa were not bad, but nor were they good. Perhaps that is what they are, a mid-table side. Given the owners’ investment, supporters expect better, and so they should.
Gerrard was certainly prickly when asked afterwards if his team were progressing, the inference being that they were not. ‘We were one goal away from you not asking that question,’ he cut back. ‘We’re close to that improvement but there’s still tons of work to do.’
But Villa did not score, and that is why questions are justifiably asked. There wouldn’t be as much need for questions if Gerrard’s side had won more than one away league game since March. But they haven’t.
They should have won here after Leeds winger Luis Sinisterra gifted them a man advantage in the 48th minute when blocking a quick freekick at the expense of a second yellow card. It was a brainless act, but Villa weren’t too clever either.
Gerrard, cuttingly, did say that one or two of his players might not sleep as well as they should do.
It was in injury time when the manager booted a water bottle with a connection far cleaner than that of striker Ollie Watkins, who had just shot at goalkeeper Illan Meslier when free inside the penalty area.
As for Coutinho, he looks not so much a pale imitation and more an anaemic replica of the player who cost Barcelona £142million in 2018. Gerrard has called the Brazilian his ‘little magician’. He has performed a disappearing act this season. No goals, no assists. LEEDS (4-2-3-1): Meslier 6.5; Kristensen 6 (Ayling 69, 6), Koch 6.5, COOPER 7, Struijk 6.5; Adams 6.5, Roca 6.5 (Firpo 58, 6); Harrison 6 (Klich 79), Aaronson 5.5 (Sommerville 79), Sinisterra 5; Rodrigo 5.5 (Bamford 69, 6.5). Booked: Sinisterra, Roca, Rodrigo, Koch. Sent off: Sinisterra. Manager: Jesse Marsch 6. ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Martínez 6.5; Young 7, Konsa 7, Mings 7, Augustinsson 5.5 (Bednarek 45, 6); Ramsey 7 (Ings 83), Douglas Luiz 6.5, McGinn 6.5; Bailey 5.5 (Buendia 64, 7), Watkins 5.5, Coutinho 5.5. Booked: Augustinsson, Bailey. Manager: Steven Gerrard 6. Referee: Stuart Attwell 7. Attendance: 36,582.