Villa were cruising before late scare.
Unai Emery pledged to analyse why Villa “lost their minds for a few minutes” in Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 win over Sunderland.
Villa looked to be cruising to victory when they led 3-1 after 85 minutes but the visitors struck twice in 60 seconds through Trai Hume and Wilson Isidor.
Substitute Tammy Abraham then netted a stoppage time winner after Habib Diarra had been denied by Emi Martinez.
Victory put Villa 10 points clear fourth of sixth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table and they need just two more wins to guarantee a top-five finish and Champions League qualification.
Emery said: "I am so, so happy. We played a fantastic match and maybe the two goals we conceded in one minute, we lost our mind a little bit.
“They were excited. But how we reacted at 3-3 to score the fourth goal was fantastic.
"The Premier League is very difficult and to beat Sunderland, they had the opportunity today and still are in the run for Europe.
“We started this match with many objectives, one of them was to keep fourth, get an advantage on other teams and leave Sunderland further behind us.
“We did it. I am so happy with how we played but I am going to analyse deeply why we lost our minds in a few minutes.”
Villa made the perfect start when Ollie Watkins headed them in front after just 101 seconds.
Though Chris Rigg then levelled for the visitors, Watkins restored Villa’s advantage before the break and then laid on a goal for Morgan Rogers in the opening minute of the second half.
But Sunderland came roaring back through Hume and Isidor, who both scored after Jadon Sancho lost possession.
Emery refused to place the blame for either goal at the feet of the Manchester United loanee, explaining: “It is not his mistake. The mistake is how we did this action. If we did more passes, we could have avoided it.
“The idea in 90 minutes was through good positioning and keeping possession, trying to be patient.
“When we conceded one goal, we decided to go quickly. I am never punishing it.
“After the ball we lost, the players didn’t respond well to protect the goals. We are going to analyse and find solutions for mistakes. I am always taking responsibility for the mistakes, not the players.”
Continue Reading