Aston Villa’s amazing winning streak reached 11 games with a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The Villans tied a club record that had stood for more than a century, last set in 1914 and 1887.
In the 37th minute, Chelsea went ahead when Joao Pedro scored from a corner kick by Reece James that went past Emiliano Martinez. The Brazilian striker got the last touch after a tussle in the six-yard box, but Villa regrouped at the break thanks to manager Unai Emery’s smart tactical changes.
Emery made a big change in the 59th minute when he brought Ollie Watkins on from the bench to replace Donyell Malen. People were surprised that Malen started instead of Watkins, and the England international proved his manager wrong with a great performance.
Watkins had an immediate effect, tying the game in the 63rd minute after Morgan Rogers passed him the ball. Robert Sanchez saved the striker’s first shot, but the ball bounced off Watkins and went over the line to make it 1-1. The game changed completely in the 84th minute when Watkins scored again, this time with a powerful header from Youri Tielemans’ corner to finish the comeback.
The goal made the travelling Villa fans go crazy with joy as their team won to secure a historic run. With 39 points so far, Villa are now just three points behind Arsenal, who are in first place in the Premier League. Emery’s team has won 16 of their last 18 games in all competitions and 11 of their last 12 in the Premier League.
Throughout the game, the Blues had many chances, especially in the first half, but they didn’t capitalize on them. Enzo Maresca’s team is struggling to be consistent at Stamford Bridge, where they have had a tough season. As his team remains inconsistent, Maresca is under increasing pressure to find answers.
Watkins Shows His Value After Being Shocked by the Bench Decision
Before the game, people were surprised that Unai Emery put Ollie Watkins on the bench. This was especially true since the striker had assisted in Villa’s previous win over Manchester United. Because of a busy schedule, the Spanish coach chose Donyell Malen to play in the attack.
Watkins finally looked like his best self against Chelsea, which is exactly why his manager needs to start him all the time. For the first hour, there was no movement, directness, or clinical finishing. However, the England international’s entry changed the game completely.
The two goals at Stamford Bridge were typical of Watkins. His first goal showed how persistent and predatory he is, and his second goal showed how good he is in the air and at positioning himself.