Last Updated: March 11, 2021 11:11 am
Watkins first line of defence
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has been speaking ahead of their match with Newcastle on Friday evening. He spoke of the importance of his team to defend from the front, meaning the likes of Ollie Watkins will need to continue with the high energy levels which he has expelled already during his first season at Villa Park.
“He’s our first line of defence, the reason that we win the ball higher up the pitch this season is his pressing. “His energy levels and high-speed running is incredible, he’s been a really top signing for us.”
Brentford’s Ollie Watkins after the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi final second leg match at Griffin Park, London. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Smith knows that his side need to keep creating the opportunities for the former Brentford striker if they want to progress further up the table in search of a European qualification spot.
“We have created some big chances in our last few games and as long as we keep doing that, we’ll be okay.”
Villa are currently 9th in the table and 5 points of 7th with a game in hand.
Grealish out, Cash back
Smith has confirmed that Jack Grealish is recovering but he will not be back yet as he has been hit by illness during his rehabilitation.
“Jack Grealish is a lot better, but you won’t see him at Newcastle unfortunately. It hasn’t helped that he’s been ill this week, which has kept him off for a couple of days,” said Smith.
However, there was good news regarding Matty Cash and Anwar El Ghazi. The right back signed from Nottingham Forest has had an excellent season for the Villains but missed recent weeks with a knock.
“Matty Cash will be in the squad and Anwar El Ghazi is back as well.”
Smith: “Matty Cash will be in the squad and Anwar El Ghazi is back as well.
“Jack Grealish is a lot better, but you won’t see him at Newcastle unfortunately. It hasn’t helped that he’s been ill this week, which has kept him off for a couple of days.”#NEWAVL pic.twitter.com/QE6Etv4QnJ
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 11, 2021
Villa take on Newcastle at 8pm Friday evening.
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City FC | 28 | 37 | 65 |
| 2 | Manchester United FC | 28 | 23 | 54 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 28 | 16 | 53 |
| 4 | Chelsea FC | 28 | 19 | 50 |
| 5 | West Ham United FC | 27 | 11 | 48 |
| 6 | Everton FC | 27 | 4 | 46 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 27 | 18 | 45 |
| 8 | Liverpool FC | 28 | 11 | 43 |
| 9 | Aston Villa FC | 26 | 11 | 40 |
| 10 | Arsenal FC | 27 | 7 | 38 |
| 11 | Leeds United | 27 | -3 | 35 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 28 | -9 | 35 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 28 | -17 | 34 |
| 14 | Southampton FC | 27 | -11 | 33 |
| 15 | Burnley FC | 28 | -16 | 30 |
| 16 | Newcastle United FC | 27 | -17 | 27 |
| 17 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 27 | -8 | 26 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 28 | -11 | 26 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 28 | -36 | 18 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 28 | -29 | 14 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 17 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 16 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 16 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 13 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 13 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 12 |
| Gundogan, Ilkay | Manchester City FC | 12 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 10 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 9 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 9 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 9 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 8 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 8 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 8 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 8 |
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United FC | 0 | 8 |
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 8 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 7 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 8 |
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 7 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 6 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 6 |
| Tielemans, Youri | Leicester City FC | 0 | 6 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United FC | 0 | 6 |
| Klich, Mateusz | Leeds United | 0 | 6 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 6 |
| Hojbjerg, Pierre | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 0 | 6 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 5 |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 0 | 6 |
| Kante, N`Golo | Chelsea FC | 0 | 6 |
| Phillips, Kalvin | Leeds United | 0 | 6 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 5 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 10 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 10 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 9 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 7 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 6 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 5 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 5 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 5 |
| Firmino, Roberto | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Foden, Phil | Manchester City FC | 5 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 5 |
| Neto, Pedro | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 5 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United FC | 5 |
| Robertson, Andrew | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Willian | Arsenal FC | 5 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 4 |
Source: 101greatgoals.com
