Bruce needs to get to grips with No.1 issue...
FLAPPING at crosses, presenting strikers with tap-ins and horribly miscuing goal-kicks. It’s the story of Aston Villa’s season as EIGHT individual goalkeeping errors have already cost the claret and blues ELEVEN crucial Championship points.
From Pierluigi Gollini’s early-season howlers to Sam Johnstone’s most recent struggles, Villa have thrown away points far too easily this term and now they’re starting to feel the full effect.
A top-six finish feels like a distant dream and let’s be honest, when you’ve had to change a goalkeeper three times in a season, clearly there are problems that need addressing.
Mark Bunn has arguably been the most consistent performer but even he’s had his moments. And it’s no surprise that the teams occupying the top places all have settled stoppers leading from the back.
Villa have kept just six clean sheets all season and only managed to record one shut-out in their last 16 games. But it’s these costly errors below that have really been the most damaging. SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1-0 VILLA
Hardly an ideal debut for Gollini was it? A dreadful clearance set up Fernando Forestieri who bagged a late winner on the opening day of the season to send Villa home empty-handed.
COST: 1 POINT VILLA 1-1 HUDDERSFIELD
Just two games later and Gollini was at it again. This time his clearance was charged down by Michael Hefele and the ball cannoned off his back and into an empty net.
COST: 2 POINTS BRISTOL CITY 3-1 VILLA
Gollini wasn’t solely to blame for this defeat as his team-mates didn’t turn up either. But after taking a rare early lead, the Italian spilled a cross perfectly into Tammy Abraham’s path for the equaliser and was wrong-footed for the third goal – a free-kick from Lee Tomlin.
COST: 1 POINT BARNSLEY 1-1 VILLA Missing a cross after coming off his line to collect, Gollini left his defence in disarray in the closing stages of this game and Sam Winnall popped up with a telling equaliser that would see Roberto Di Matteo lose his job after the next encounter. COST 2 POINTS LEEDS 2-0 VILLA
There wasn’t much in this game but when Gollini came for a cross and was easily beaten to it by Kemar Roofe, Leeds went ahead and never looked back. Steve Bruce’s patience was already starting to run thin and the search for a replacement began. COST 1 POINT CARDIFF 1-0 VILLA
After a solid return to the team, Mark Bunn came under scrutiny after this performance. OK, so maybe the defence could have done better to clear the ball for the only goal of the game, but Bunn’s weak save from a flicked-on Joe Bennett corner should have been better. It’s worth noting that Villa’s outfield players were particularly to blame for this defeat after another horror-show on the road but Bunn will know he could have done better to prevent Joe Ralls scoring.
COST: 1 POINT WOLVES 1-0 VILLA
Sam Johnstone arrived in January on loan from Manchester United to tighten up the goalkeeping department.
But despite a solid debut in the FA Cup defeat at Tottenham, the 23-year-old was at fault for the only goal in this game. He parried a cross perfectly into Joe Mason’s path and the forward made no mistake with his finish.
COST: 1 POINT NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2-1 VILLA
This was one of the most frustrating mistakes of them all because Villa deserved so much more from the game. After taking an early lead, Johnstone fumbled a long-range effort and gifted Britt Assombalonga the equaliser. Jack Grealish also cost his team a share of the spoils by getting sent off late on but had it not been for the goalkeeper’s error, Villa might well have been out of reach by that point. Everyone makes mistakes and it’s only natural for a young goalkeeper learning his trade. But after a difficult start, the pressure is now on him to find his best form. COST: 2 POINTS