Aston Villa hauled themselves across the line for a victory that gets their season under way but they are a long way from what is expected of them. Ollie Watkins' missed second-half penalty summed up the lack of belief at Villa Park against an average Bologna who nearly grabbed a point, but for Marco Bizot's late save to deny Martin Vitik. It gives them something to build on before Sunday's visit of Fulham but the loss in form of Morgan Rogers and Watkins - both so pivotal last season - is a growing concern.
Aston Villa hauled themselves across the line for a victory that gets their season under way but they are a long way from what is expected of them.
Their last European game at Villa Park was a swashbuckling, dramatic and heroic 3-2 Champions League quarter-final second leg win over Paris St-Germain in April which pushed the eventual champions - who squeezed through 5-4 on aggregate - to the limit.
Fast forward to September and Villa are lacking confidence and conviction as they tackle Europe again.
Ollie Watkins' missed second-half penalty summed up the lack of belief at Villa Park against an average Bologna who nearly grabbed a point, but for Marco Bizot's late save to deny Martin Vitik.
They got the job done but did nothing to show they are out of their rut. A positive start gave way to a stuttering display which better and more ruthless teams - in Europe and the Premier League - will punish.
It gives them something to build on before Sunday's visit of Fulham but the loss in form of Morgan Rogers and Watkins - both so pivotal last season - is a growing concern.
Unai Emery has so often squeezed every drop out of this Villa side since he joined just under three years ago but he needs to find some extra juice now.
The bar has been so high under Emery it is no wonder the questions about Villa's form and performance are there. And there needs to be a drastic improvement to even get close to those previous heights.
Category: General Sports
