Aston Villaβs return to Premier League action had felt like a long time coming. The hope that some momentum from a scrappy win against Southampton last time out had sustained through the international break.
If it felt a long time since Villa Park descended into darkness and silence before the Saints game it must have felt even longer for Leeds β when they last played the Queen was alive.
So to Elland Road and a fixture that is becoming a bit of a feisty one. Essentially this harks back to the Championship days and Marco Bielsa screaming to βgive a goalβ etc etc. The pre-season game this summer carried on the theme when John McGinn welcomed teenager Archie Gray down under. Not for nothing, Gray was reminded of this in no uncertain terms by those in attendance at the U21 fixture between the two sides earlier this Summer.
The game of course came at the fag end of the weekend β never an enviable slot for a game like this. As it was Villa and Leeds had to follow the ongoing Erling Haaland show as City won the Manchester derby 6-3. They nearly managed some symmetry β but in bookings rather than goals; 5-2 to Leeds.
The game began as it would ultimately continue. Both sides seemed intent on playing with intensity and passion β forcing one another back and forth with no real sense of composure and quality. The first quarter was incredibly scrappy, with Leeds slightly edging things but in reality not forcing Emi Martinez into a save. At the other end, Ollie Watkins tested Meslier in the Leeds goal twice without ever really convincing. Not that the Leeds keeper was any more sure of himself, especially under high balls. Coutinho flickered, sometimes brightly, his skill on occasion illuminating a turgid first half.
Some light if ironic relief came as debutant Augustinsson added to the great 2022 defensive injury crisis β tweaking a hamstring and being replaced by Jan Bednarek. Ezri Konsashifted over to right back in a less-than-inspiring reshuffle. Konsaβs previous contributions had been getting a telling off from Martinez for not closing down Rodrigo and then dishing out a verbal dressing down himself to the Leeds striker after clattering into him. A penny for Mr Guilbertβs thoughts?
Of the three yellow cards issued to Leeds in the first 45 one went to Columbian winger Sinisterra, a silly caution he would soon regret as Douglas Luiz encouraged him into contesting a Villa free kick and then demanding a second booking for not retreating a suitable distance. Ashley Young and Jacob Ramsey gleefully reminded the referee the winger had already been booked and ushered him away. The right call β and potentially a moment to turn the game.
Of course, we know now it wasnβt as Villa huffed and puffed, seeking a solitary goal that would likely win the game. Leeds heeded the warning of Coutinho hitting the post and switched to a back five to kick start a rearguard action that would define the second period. Emi Buendia was summoned from the bench to try and inflict some urgency which worked to a point as the little Argentinian flashed a drive just past the top corner. McGinn and Bailey had similar long rage efforts diverted or blocked. For all the ball Villa had once Leeds had gone down to ten men the most concerning point for Gerrard (not for the first time) will have been the seeming inability to take chances.
As it was Leeds could have won it at the death with only McGinnβs sliding challenge preventing a Kate home winner. There was still time for Watkins to fail to convert from a narrow-angle late on which unfortunately was a theme of the match and increasingly the season. The Villa number 11 brings so much to the team but his finishing just has not progressed. Understandably, many Villa fans would like to see Cameron Archer get some game time β he is certainly not developing on the bench and is β without a shadow of a doubt β a natural finisher.
Glass half full attitude points to another point and another clean sheet but bubbling below any optimistic conclusion is the reality that the team still seem to lack a plan and identity. Week by week for October I fully expect Villa to veer between mid-table mediocrity and relegation calamity. The Summer days of looking upward towards Europe seem a long, long way off right now.
AUTHOR | IVAN MCDOUALL
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive Ivan McDouall | UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog
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