El Ghazi sparks Villa’s dreams of Euro fantasy
ASTON VILLA manager Dean Smith is no lover of fantasy football but a dogged 1-0 win away from home is just perfect.
Smith was i rked l ast weekend when Jack Grealish’s shin injury was leaked because fantasy players with inside knowledge started to withdraw the Villa captain from their teams.
Yesterday, it was all smiles. Anwar El Ghazi was given the Grealish slot on the left side of a 4-3-3 and struck the only goal after five minutes. It was a particularly sweet moment for the Dutch international who had been unjustly sent off on his last visit to Elland Road in 2019. He also used to play for Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa at Lille and it was nice to see the pair share a friendly handshake despite El Ghazi’s match-winning contribution.
He did well to bring a mishit shot by Ollie Watkins under control inside the penalty area and had the composure to slip a low finish past Illan Meslier for his seventh goal of the season.
It provided the framework for a deserved win that takes Villa just six points off a Champions League spot with a couple of games in hand on West Ham in fourth. It was also their first top flight win without the talismanic Grealish since February 2016. Though he will continue to be the first name on the teamsheet when fit, there was enough in the performances from El Ghazi, John McGinn, Watkins and teenager Jacob Ramsey — preferred to Ross Barkley — to indicate this isn’t a one-man team.
‘It was important for us to win after losing the last game against Leicester,’ said El Ghazi. ‘ The gaffer told us we had to be on the front foot from the beginning. We prepared well and got a fast start.
‘We know Jack Grealish is important and without him it is a hard game but we did really well. We were on it from the start which wasn’t the case against Leicester.’
El Ghazi’s late substitution was an improvement on his exit from this fixture two years ago, when he was victim to a miscarriage of justice.
He was sent off for apparently elbowing Patrick Bamford, a decision which was later rescinded when t he Leeds f orward was banned for diving. ‘The last time was hectic and chaotic. I was very upset — I am happy. This was a better ending for me.’ he admitted.
Smith added: ‘We got our tactics right. Second half, we defended in a lower block and restricted them to fewer chances. I wanted to start with an intensity which I didn’t feel we had in the last two games. Anwar knows how to play against a Bielsa team because he played with him. He scored a good goal and had a couple of good efforts.’
As for Leeds, though they are never dull, this wasn’t one of their better 90 minutes. Raphinha was their best outlet but he missed the best chance of a late equaliser when he headed into the ground and over the bar. A slippy Elland Road pitch didn’t help either but for a newlypromoted team to be safe from relegation at this stage of the season, they are entitled to a mild off-day.
Leeds must have feared the worst when t hey saw referee Peter Bankes in charge — he officiated their FA Cup defeat at Crawley. As it happens, he had a good game and showed common sense in resisting giving second yellows to Matt Targett and Mateusz Klich in a contest that was competitive but not dirty.
Both sides made quick starts with Raphinha failing to convert at the far post in the first minute and Villa had a penalty claim for handball before scoring. Ramsey squared a pass to Watkins on the edge of the box and while the striker slipped in shooting, the ball squirted to El Ghazi unmarked on the far side of the area. The Dutchman did well to take the unexpected ‘pass’ and produce a composed finish.
As usual for a Leeds game, the goalkeepers were busy in the first half. Emiliano Martinez blocked Tyler Roberts from point- blank range and then Meslier tipped over from the exuberant El Ghazi.
El Ghazi was in the mood and another strike from the edge of the box was parried by Meslier.
Strangely Leeds failed to create clear-cut chances in the second half despite Bielsa sending on Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez.
But Bielsa defended his players. ‘We played better than the opponent and had many minutes of dominance. We just lacked imagination with the final pass. If any team deserved to win it was us,’
Even so, the lack of penetration was surprising, particularly as Villa goalkeeper Martinez was taking painkillers for a tight groin, with his defenders taking goal-kicks in the second half.
Bielsa was praised for good sportsmanship the last time Villa were in town, allowing them to score an uncontested goal following a controversial one from his own side.
This time, there was no need for a grand gesture, just a little chat with opposition goalkeeper, Martinez. ‘Just to say “Hello”. He is a compatriot,’ shrugged the Leeds boss.