Tim Sherwood had an eventful eight months in charge at Aston Villa in 2015
Ex-Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has hit out at striker Ollie Watkins after the his team's 1-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday.
Watkins started the day on the bench as he was replaced by Jhon Durán ahead of an important Champions League clash with RB Leipzig on Tuesday night. Introduced in the 58th minute, the England international missed several opportunities to put the game against the Saints to bed with some questionable decision-making causing the spurning of chances.
The England international has struggled to set the league alight quite as much as he did last year, with the unexpectedly brilliant cameos of Durán stealing a lot of the limelight so far this campaign. Despite this, Watkins has still managed an admirable seven goals and three assists in the Premier League this season.
Former Villa boss Sherwood criticised the 28-year-old during the late stages of the game at Villa Park, and highlighted the performance in the low-scoring win.
"Southampton keep getting caught but Watkins has been so sloppy since coming on!" the 55-year-old pundit said on Soccer Saturday.
Sherwood was in charge of the Villans from February to October in 2015, reaching the FA Cup of that year before a poor run of form at the start of the following season of which Villa were eventually relegated.
"I am a big fan of Villa but they have been bang average today," he said earlier in the programme.
The biggest of Watkins' chances came as Unai Emery's side broke away on the counter attack. He was through on goal with Ross Barkley in the box to his right but waited too long to do either, getting the ball to his teammate when Saints had found the men to get back and defend, the effort at goal blocked.
Villa face German side Leipzig on Tuesday as they look to get back into the top eight of the Champions League once more. Watkins could prove huge in this game as he will be coming up against a team and a defence that has struggled recently, failing to win in six games prior to their last two.
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