HAPPY Watkins equals a OLLIE DAY
AT the third time of asking Ollie Watkins finally managed to break Jordan Pickford’s steely resistance to dump Everton into the bottom three.
Fresh from signing a new four-anda-half-year contract without a relegation clause, Pickford had transferred his off-field commitment to a shall-not-pass mantra in front of the Goodison faithful.
Twice he denied his England teammate, first coming out on top in a oneon-one confrontation and then leaving Watkins with his head in his hands as he somehow clawed a close-range header on to the post.
But there was nothing Everton’s notso-gentle green giant could do when former Villa player Idrissa Gana Gueye tripped John Mcginn in the box.
Watkins stepped up, ball in hand, to the penalty spot as predictably Pickford engaged in mind games while delaying the kick.
He was wasting his own time as Watkins found the roof of the net to continue his prolific scoring sequence.
It’s now a goal in each of his last five Premier League games, which equals Paul Rideout’s Villa top-flight record.
Rideout went on to play for Everton and scored the winning goal in the 1995 FA Cup final – and how Sean Dyche’s side could do with his finishing prowess, especially with Dominic Calvert-lewin injured and Neal Maupay continuing to fire blanks in front of goal.
Dyche said: “A lot of the performance I thought was right, the physicality of the side, the shape was good for large parts of the game.
“We started to build a real performance in the first half, dominated large parts and asked questions.
“The theme so far has been finding the big moments and we didn’t find them. Goals change games. We gave away a penalty and then they get a goal really out of nothing at that late stage of the game. Finding the big moments that’s the proof in the pudding.”
Former Brighton striker Maupay has only scored once in his last 28 Premier League games. And you could see any confidence draining from him while the groans of the Gwladys Street end grew louder as he continued to lose his way in front of goal.
Villa substitute Emiliano Buendia rubbed salt in the wounds, showing how it’s done, as he skipped into the area and a fierce strike flew past Pickford to seal victory for the visitors.
Goodison Park fell silent – the old stands which had bounced with joy in the last two home games, witnessing wins against Arsenal and Leeds, were now seeing frustrated fans heading for the exits.
For Villa boss Unai Emery it halted a run of three straight defeats. He said: “Today was an amazing reaction. The focus was very good. We were very competitive and clinical in front of goal. It was a very good three points.
“We needed to win. At the beginning it was to get into the top 10. To achieve that we need to win more games.”
Watkins had begun with energy, a reminder of the time he was part of England boss Gareth Southgate’s plans.
Maupay saw a glancing header squeeze past the post and should have done better just before the break, firing without much conviction straight at Emilano Martinez.
He was also denied by Tyrone Mings hacking clear on the goalline. Cue more frustration from the home crowd – and it’s Arsenal up next at The Emirates on Wednesday night.