What a waste!
Villa in trouble if they don’t learn to hang on to a lead
THEY had that feeling again. Another crushing missed opportunity. Aston Villa have the destiny of games in their palm but are not translating that into results. Look at Arsenal, look at West Ham. Now look at Burnley.
Five points from seven Premier League games on their return to the top flight does not do Dean Smith’s side justice yet here we are, with Villa having twice squandered leads on a day Sean Dyche’s side picked up another creditable point.
Dyche ought to be praised for tinkering at half-time — Burnley matching Villa’s formation with a holding midfielder and throwing an extra attacker on in the form of Jay Rodriguez.
‘I don’t want to be too big time about it,’ said Dyche. ‘We calmed the game down, started playing. When it affects the game it is nice.’
It is three consecutive away draws against similar opposition for Burnley and, given the expectation that Turf Moor will once again resemble a fortress, this form should keep them clear of danger.
Villa have dropped eight points from winning positions and were constantly on the front foot during what proved a feisty afternoon.
It ended with John McGinn mimicking the VAR signal after scoring late on, such is frustration with the implementation of technology.
He had earlier seen a goal correctly ruled out via Stockley Park for offside. Villa are dissatisfied they did not win this match.
‘There’s no mental block,’ stressed Smith. ‘You could see there is a confidence and belief. There was only one team winning that. Burnley go home with what they came for. You saw in the first few minutes how long the goal kicks took.’
The opener came just after the half hour.McGinnstr etched Burnley, switching play to Frederic Guilbert.
Erik Pieters backed off in an attempt to regroup but Ben Mee then misread his cross and that momentary lapse allowed Anwar El Ghazi to sweep the ball across Nick Pope.
Dyche’s side were competitive and looked threatening when they broke in midfield. Dwight McNeil, who struck the bar from a 30-year free-kick, was not seeing enough of the ball for the visitors’ good.
Villa thought they were ahead after 25 minutes when McGinn met Conor Hourihane’s low cross.
The teams had reset for kick-off, the celebrations ended, when Lee Mason strode towards the away goal to signal Ho uri ha new as offside.
That there was a possibility of an overturned decision via a mandatory VAR check was only communicated once the decision had already been made. The supporters, rightly, are in a constant state of confusion.
Hourihane could also consider himself unfortunate when his freekick clipped Pope’s post, while the Burnley goalkeeper had to swat away Jack Grealish’s menacing drive.
Dyche knew he had to change things and Jack Cork’s shoulder injury saw Rodriguez emerge at the break. The change worked, with Jeff Hendrick and Mee going close moments after the restart. McNeil felt greater influence.
Pressure grew as Burnley inched their way back into the game. Ashley Barnes tussled to keep a move alive out on the left after 67 minutes, with Pieters t aking over and standing a ball up for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez claimed a first Premier League goal back at his hometown club, rising above Neil Taylor to power a header beyond Tom Heaton, then cupping his ear to the Villa fans as he went.
Taylor had only been on the pitch a matter of moments after Matt Targett was forced off after feeling his hamstring.
El Ghazi also departed after being dealt a blow by Pieters in the buildup to the goal. It was that sort of game, the sort Burnley crave.
‘A bit niggly, a bit of tension in the stadium,’ said Dyche. ‘ I enjoy that.’
Smith did not. ‘How they came through without a yellow card on McGinn I don’t know,’ he fumed. ‘It was almost like a tag team on him.’ Back Villa came, Matt Lowton losing substitute Trezequet’s ball in the flight. McGinn calmly volleyed a second. A difficult strike made to look incredibly easy. That came with 11 minutes left and with nine to go we were level again.
Burnley had that grit about them going forward. Lowton found space on the right, whipping a teasing delivery for Chris Wood to go and meet. He slipped between defenders and thundered a second equaliser, leaving assistant manager Ian Woan twirling with delight in the technical area.