Aston Villa extended their winning streak in 2025 to three matches with a crucial 1-0 victory over Everton, marking their first away clean sheet of the season. Ollie Watkins delivered once again, netting his ninth Premier League goal of the campaign and solidifying his place in the starting lineup despite Jhon Duran’s return from suspension.
Watkins, a key figure for Villa this season, missed an early opportunity in the first half when he shot wide while one-on-one with the goalkeeper. However, he redeemed himself just five minutes into the second half by converting Morgan Rogers’ precise pass into the decisive goal.
Villa manager Unai Emery praised Watkins’ relentless work rate and resilience. “Ollie always responds on the field, sometimes not with goals but always with his work. Today he delivered with a fantastic goal. Strikers have to score, and Ollie showed he can combine that with incredible effort for the team,” Emery said.
The win marked Villa’s sixth unbeaten game at Goodison Park, which could be one of their final appearances at the historic stadium. Everton, still searching for consistency, squandered a golden opportunity to equalize in stoppage time when Dominic Calvert-Lewin blasted a chance over the crossbar.
Reflecting on Villa’s defensive improvements, Emery added: “We are conceding a lot of goals—more than normal. Sometimes it’s because of mistakes, other times it’s due to the opponent’s strength. But today we showed defensive solidity, which has been lacking in recent away matches. The clean sheet was our first objective, and we achieved it.”
Villa’s resilience and growing momentum provide hope for fans as the team continues to climb the Premier League table. Watkins’ consistency, coupled with a reinvigorated defense, could prove vital as they aim for a strong finish this season.
With Emery fine-tuning his squad and addressing past defensive frailties, Villa appear ready to tackle the challenges ahead, maintaining their place among the league’s most consistent performers.
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