Unai makes change for the better
HEAD coach Unai Emery was frustrated with Villa’s performance in the first half of their 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday, but was content with a point in the end.
Villa dominated possession but struggled to progress the ball and threaten the Hammers.
“We didn’t control the game in the first half,” said Emery. “We were not progressing to impose our position. When they are connecting with their attacking players, they scored one goal.
“We changed tactics in the second half and we got chances to score a goal and in the end we did score. The second half, we deserve it more than the first half.
“We had a plan before the match and the plan can change. The players had to be ready and focused in case we needed them.
I’m very happy for Nicolo, hopefully we can keep him in this mood for the rest of the season. Zaniolo is working and he is focused.
“In this Premier League level it is difficult because the set-piece takers are good. It is important to not concede set-pieces.
“Overall, I think tactically in the second half we dominated and imposed our position. It’s better to win but we draw and I think it’s good and we have to accept it.”
West Ham boss David Moyes admitted Villa were “the better team for periods’’, despite his side being denied a stoppage-time winner.
“We’ve had four handballs this week that didn’t go for us,’’ he said. “It’s what VAR do, it’s their decision not ours, we can’t do anything about it. It’s there to do the job.
“In the second half, Villa stepped it up, they were the better team for periods. I was really pleased with how we performed overall.”