The striker is feeling contemporary for the house stretch of the season.
Ollie Watkins declared that he’s ‘raring to go’ for Aston Villa‘s end-of-season run-in after his double gave them command of their Europa League quarter-final tie with Bologna.
Villa have one foot within the semi-finals after a 3-1 win at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, regardless of spending a lot of the competition on the again foot.
Bologna appeared to have taken a first-half lead when Ezri Konsa deflected Santiago Castro’s effort over the road.
However Villa have been saved by the offside flag and made probably the most of that reprieve, Konsa heading them in entrance shortly earlier than half-time after Bologna goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia flapped at a Youri Tielemans’ nook.
Wonderful urgent from Emi Buendia teed up Watkins to make it 2-0 seven minutes into the second half, earlier than Jonathan Rowe curled within the objective Bologna deserved within the ninetieth minute.
But a twist within the story got here with the final kick of the sport, which was delivered by Watkins as he tapped in to revive Villa’s two-goal cushion after Bologna did not defend one other Tielemans’ nook.
Watkins hungry for extra
Watkins was disregarded of the England squad for his or her ultimate friendlies on residence soil forward of this summer season’s World Cup.
However that omission has seemingly left Watkins feeling contemporary as he goals to assist Villa safe a spot within the Premier League high 4 and declare their first trophy because the 1996 EFL Cup.
“It might’ve been totally different,” Watkins advised TNT Sports activities. “That they had a disallowed objective and if that turns and it was 1-0 and stayed that manner it might’ve been a great distance again for us. We obtained fortunate. They performed powerful right this moment.
“We obtained the objective from the set-piece and that sort of took the sting out of the sport. They have been dominant earlier than that, however simply earlier than half-time is a good time to attain. We obtained the second after half-time after which we felt we at all times have been going to attain extra.
“Again finish of the season I’m raring to go. I might play one other 90 minutes. I’m excited for the subsequent few video games. I’m hungry.
“Their winger [Rowe] was inflicting issues tonight. Nice end for his objective and at 2-1 it’s all to play for. That different objective, taking a 2-0 lead again to Villa Park, makes it powerful for them.
“We have now to play like that very recreation. Like towards West Ham [before the international break] we performed effectively. We have now to maintain pushing, everybody round us is successful. We’re in a fantastic spot on the finish of the season and it’s all to play for.”
Set-pieces the precedence for Aston Villa
Two of Villa’s targets got here from glorious deliveries from corners from Tielemans, who returned after two months out with an ankle harm.
And supervisor Unai Emery revealed afterwards that they’d positioned an emphasis on dead-ball conditions.
“Glad sure, however we are attempting to get stability in every little thing,” Emery advised TNT.
“We performed the primary leg right here and gained, and it’s a unbelievable outcome. How we did the 90 minutes, I can really feel roughly good for some issues and never too good for the others. A great outcome however we nonetheless have the second leg to play.
“First half we have been a bit shy. We wanted to attempt to do extra passes, to get higher positions within the attacking third however we have been dropping the ball simply. We weren’t conceding so much however with just a few moments we conceded.
“Set-pieces are at all times necessary however right this moment it was our precedence defensively and offensively as a result of we knew earlier than the match that it might be one method to attempt to get one thing. Within the first half we scored one objective, different probabilities as effectively.
“The outcome was significantly better than the match we performed within the first half, however within the second half it was fully totally different. We dominated them and managed the sport like we deliberate to within the first half however we didn’t do, and we have been feeling comfy. We reacted effectively offensively after they scored.
“Within the second leg they will attempt to suppress us and my message contained in the dressing room is to maintain enjoying the second leg with the identical plan, effectively with the brand new plan we may have, however hold respecting them.”
