Aston Villa

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Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has itted FA Cup semi-final opponents Crystal Palace are a "bogey side" for his club.

Speaking on whether boss Unai Emery will have a plan for them, he said: "Yeah, I'm sure he does. Obviously, quick turnaround and we have to get over Manchester City now.

"But we've got all our faith in the manager that he'll get the tactics right.

"Obviously, Palace have been a bit of a bogey team for us, but on our day we're capable of beating anyone and everyone's looking forward to that. Just bring on the weekend, really."

After the late disappointment against City on Tuesday, Watkins is already looking forward to the opportunity of making the FA Cup final, and says it has been a target for him ever since making the switch to Villa Park.

"I think this is the furthest we've gone in the FA Cup since I've been at the club," he said. "We've always gone out quite early doors and it's disappointing. You want to win these competitions and it's nice that we're in the latter stages of it.

"I've been saying to the boys that one thing I set my eyes on when I ed the club was winning a trophy.

"It's been so long since the club has done that and that's the main aim. Saturday is massive and we will be doing all we can to get to the final."

Full commentary of Crystal Palace v Aston Villa from 17:15 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live

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We asked for your thoughts after the defeat by Manchester City on Tuesday.

Here are some of your comments:

Russell: Gave City far too much respect. We should have gone at them like on Saturday. Why bring on Disasi and not Andres Garcia? Played for a draw and it blew up in our faces.

Jamie: I felt like Aston Villa should have done better. Marcus Rashford got very close to the opening goal but the post sadly denied him. Even as a Villa er, I don't think it was a penalty, but in the moment I was happy.

Keith: Awful. Not the same team that played against Newcastle. Villa didn't believe they could beat Man City and were always back-peddling with no real threat going forward. All this ridiculous playing out from the back, always putting themselves under pressure has to stop. It's tough times ahead if they want European football next season.

Paul: After good tactics and spot on subs against Newcastle, unfortunately Emery made the same mistake as against Nottingham Forest and replaced Matty Cash with Axel Disasi who sat so far back it always gave them space. If the ball was at the other end, they wouldn't score. I'm absolutely boggled how Man City are adamant it wasn't a penalty. Quoting 50-50 and not intentional is irrelevant, Ruben Dias ran across Jacob Ramsey and clipped him, so it was a penalty.

Prit: Among all the noise about a poor night for Villa, what's going on with Emi Martinez? He is a brilliant keeper, but once again his mistakes are costing us too many goals. He is lucky we have no back-up because no-one is putting him under pressure.

Ian: Solid, but very disappointing performance in the end from the boys in claret and blue against what still is a top side in Man City. They were there for the taking but we didn't do enough in the second half. Looking at the remaining fixtures, I think we will need to win all four games to secure Champions League next season, but we are more than capable to achieve this goal. Emery needs to lift them for the semi-final on Saturday and a win there will give us a massive boost to finish off the season on a high. Keep the faith.

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Aston Villa Unai Emery, speaking to Sky Sports after Tuesday's 2-1 defeat against Manchester City: "We can't waste time. We lost in the last minute of this match, but we competed well - we were close to drawing.

"We were trying to win the match as well with the subs, but they do the same and they score.

"Over 90 minutes they [Man City] dominated more, but we played a good competitive match.

"Now is a moment to be positive. I'm going to analyse the match and try get a lot of information from it. We can't waste time - we have to keep going.

"We want to try and keep the level that we're achieving and try to be demanding in our way so we can build us stronger in everything.

"Tomorrow, rest. Thursday and Friday, be positive and work hard to prepare for the game against Crystal Palace."

Did you know?

• Aston Villa have now lost in 15 consecutive league visits to Etihad Stadium, extending their longest ever away losing run to a side in their league history.

• Matheus Nunes' goal was the latest winner Villa have conceded in the Premier League since October 2021 against Wolves (94:05).

Aston Villa are set to beat Arsenal and Manchester City to the g of Rosenborg's 18-year-old Norway Under-21s midfielder Sverre Nypan. (Times - subscription required), external

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Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Man City's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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I was lucky to be covering the match of the weekend at Villa Park and bold enough to predict there would be quite a few goals - but maybe it wasn't that brave considering the two attack-minded teams.

‌When you get two well-matched teams playing in a situation where one side desperately wants to win, but the other needs to win, the usual outcome is the team who needs the victory gets it. These were the stakes at Villa Park, Unai Emery's men simply had to get all three points to get back in the Champions League-chasing pack.

‌Newcastle are safely in that elite group, for the moment, so they could afford the odd defeat.

‌Villa won easily but can they keep the impressive run going, with this streak of high-stress, difficult games not stopping any time soon?

Next up is Manchester City, not the easiest of away games and then the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace. There may well be a cup final and a top-five finish on the horizon and they look to me to be in better shape than any of their challengers.

‌The depth and quality are stunning. Amadou Onana, Marcus Rashford, Donyell Malen and Jacob Ramsey were fabulously effective substitutes on Saturday, and there are still more top players in reserve.

Considering the tactical brilliance of the manager, the top-level recruitment in every transfer window as well - as the balance and age of the squad right now - there is a decent argument that they are as likely as anyone to be challenging Liverpool for the title next season.

‌There are one or two dangers lurking under the surface, though. Tiresome sustainability rules must be carefully managed, but even they pale in comparison with the fear of Unai Emery being lured away.

‌It would take a Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or the like, but considering the job he has done at Villa, do not be surprised if the richest clubs started sniffing around.

I hope he isn't tempted, because what he has at Villa may well be perfectly suited to him.

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The race for the top five is ferocious and after seeing how Manchester City played against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, I just think Aston Villa will be too dynamic for them.

It depends on what team City boss Pep Guardiola picks, of course, but although they eventually beat Everton, they were very flat for most of the game.

I really don't understand why Pep keeps playing Bernardo Silva wide on the right, for example, and it would make much more sense if he used Jeremy Doku, along with Savinho, as his two wide men.

City's physicality in midfield has been an issue for them all season and I don't think Nico Gonzalez has made much difference there. He doesn't have anything like the same presence as Rodri, or Declan Rice at Arsenal, for example.

So, City could have problems coping with Villa, who cut straight through them at times when they beat them at Villa Park in December.

I thought Villa might be tired after their Champions League tie with Paris St-Germain last week, because they put so much into it, but they certainly didn't lack any intensity in their brilliant win over Newcastle and we know how much energy they have got in their midfield.

Villa have lost their past 14 visits to Etihad Stadium in the league, but that run will end on Tuesday.

City will be far more dangerous if Doku and Savinho both play to give them the legs they have been lacking, but it looks like Guardiola is sticking with the old guard so I am going for a Villa victory this time.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

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David Michael
Fan writer

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Against Newcastle United, Aston Villa finally produced a Premier League performance worthy of their potential - the kind their squad, at least on paper, has hinted at all season.

Now back to full strength and apparently reset after the March international break, Villa seem to have developed a new edge and focus.

Ironically, it may be the Champions League defeat by Paris St-Germain that has truly ignited them.

Over two legs, the talented champions of exposed Villa to a new level of intensity - the pace, precision, and positional discipline that define the elite. In trying to live with that, Villa were forced to raise their own game.

The result may have been an eventual exit over two legs, but the experience has invigorated them.

Since the first leg in Paris, Villa have scored 10 goals in three matches. From the second leg at Villa Park, if there is one thing the players will have taken away, it is the belief - and the hunger - that they belong at that level. That they could compete without an apparent ceiling of ambition.

Suddenly, securing Champions League football next season is not just a target - it feels like a necessity.

There is no time now for regret over dropped points earlier in the campaign - just a relentless determination to finish the job.

Tuesday's trip to Etihad Stadium presents the first truly 50-50 league clash there, arguably since Sheikh Mansour took ownership of Manchester City in 2008.

If Villa can secure a first league win at City since then, it would not only put them in pole position for a Champions League spot but underline their growing status as a legitimate force in English football.

What began as a painful European exit might just become the vital spark that fuels Villa's final push - and shapes the club's trajectory for seasons to come.

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Aston Villa are exploring the possibility of selling striker Ollie Watkins for £50-60m and g loanee Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. (Football Insider), external

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Manchester City have won their past 14 Premier League home games against Aston Villa, scoring at least twice in each of the past 13. Their most recent defeat was in April 2007.

Across those 14 consecutive victories, City have trailed in just two games, going 1-0 down in May 2010 and 2-0 down in May 2022 before winning 3-1 and 3-2 respectively.

In Premier League history, only City themselves against Newcastle (an ongoing run of 16) have won more consecutive home games against an opponent.

But Villa have won two of their past three league games against City, as many as in their previous 23, and they are looking to complete their first league double over City since 1962-63.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emery began by confirming he has a full squad to select from on Tuesday: "Tomorrow we will prepare the match as well as possible and the players will all be available."

• He wants to continue the momentum from Saturday's win over Newcastle: "We can't stop. We are involved in our key moment of the season. Through the Premier League we are trying to get our first objective. In 38 matches playing, tomorrow is the 34th."

• Emery stressed his team are well prepared: "We are ready. Every player and every worker here at Aston Villa is so so focused in the moment we are [in]."

• On Manchester City: "One of the contenders to be in the top four, five. They want to win the title, but this year has been more difficult for them. My respect for them is massive like always.

• On Ollie Watkins' chase of Villa's Premier League goalscoring record after he levelled Gabriel Agbonlahor on 74 in the competition: "Individual objectives - they are so so important for the players. Of course, through it as well we can get collective objectives. I'm so happy [with] how he is performing, how he is progressing as well under our management. The individual objective is very important for him, for us, for the club, for the process and for our progress. Hopefully, we can help him to get more and more."

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston Villa fans

Cassie: What a game. Ollie Watkins showed his ability and showed Unai Emery why he must start against Manchester City on Tuesday. It is a game which will determine if we play in the Champions League next season. The manager has a selection issue which is not a bad thing, but in Emery we trust.

Graham: Has Villa's win over PSG given the team even more self-belief that they can beat anyone? Another Emery masterclass in selection and rotation. Is that the best bench in the Premier League?

Ian: Another fantastic performance on the back of a terrific effort against PSG. A great team effort against an in-form and very good Newcastle side. We are playing with such confidence and have no fear. All credit to Emery and his staff and of course the players themselves. We just need to keep this momentum going and for once we will go to Man City believing we can win. We have such a strong squad, top players everywhere and of course a genius manager. Keep the faith!

Scott: The steady planning and background work from the manager and his team is being to flourish. Without the quality of squad that he has built, performances at this time of the season would not be possible. In brief, it is a top-class structure at Villa now with a very good squad.

Newcastle fans

Ozzy: Villa had answers to everything we tried, Emery had obviously seen our recent performances and had prepared Villa really well. Our away form has been very disappointing this season and with two away games left at Brighton and Arsenal, we will have to improve a lot if we want a top five position. Hopefully Eddie will be well enough to come back soon - we desperately need his tactical nous & inspiration over the last 5 games.

Alan: We just didn't turn up. Obviously, a difficult trip away to a side in form and they just overwhelmed us. Normally our midfield is a major strength but Guimaraes and in particular Joelinton were just not on it. It's been a long hard season with a squad which has little depth. I feel for the team. Step back, recuperate this week, and then go again.

Howard: We have played so well since the cup win, but a game like this is a reminder that our ability to rotate is very limited. We need to improve the quality of the squad so we can match the top teams. We need depth and to allow players that have been good for the club in the past to move on. We also need more consistency out of our 'star' players. I still believe we will qualify for Champions League.

Richard: I wish Newcastle would stop using the excuse of being too tired or it being a match too far for us. Villa have been playing Champions League as have other top teams and it doesn't seem to bother them. Having said that, I think we will bounce back and qualify for Champions League. However, Isak needs to pick up his form again.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

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Ollie Watkins said he'd been "fuming" when he was benched for both of Aston Villa's Champions League quarter-final ties with Paris St-Germain.

But against Newcastle on Saturday he channelled his anger perfectly as he started, scored and set up another to propel his side to brilliant 4-1 win.

His goal meant he became Villa's t-top Premier League goalscorer - alongside Gabriel Agbonlahor - on 74.

And he otherwise impressed with tireless runs, fine hold-up play and thankless pressing.

Watkins was substituted in the 82nd minute, by which point Villa were already 4-1 up and Villa Park was chanting his name.

After giving manager Unai Emery a selection headache, Watkins will expect to start both Villa's next match against Manchester City on Tuesday, and their FA Cup semi-final with Crystal Palace next weekend.