Watkins 'shuts a few people up' - now Villa aim to push on
Briefly

Watkins 'shuts a few people up' - now Villa aim to push on
"The raw emotion in Emery's goal celebrations, as he turned and pumped his fists towards the Aston Villa crowd, was in contrast to the statuesque figure he cut an hour before. Raul Jimenez had just given Fulham a third-minute lead as the Cottagers looked to end their wretched run at Villa Park. But that run continues - Ollie Watkins ended his wait for a goal and John McGinn and Emi Buendia grabbed quickfire strikes"
"Emery celebrated McGinn and Buendia's strikes as if they had secured a title, a nod to the pressure the head coach puts himself under. The former Arsenal manager's position at Villa is secure - he helped pick Roberto Olabe as Villa's new president of football operations after Monchi's exit last week - and one bad month does not undo the years of progress under him."
"Yet it has been a deeply underwhelming period for Aston Villa - five winless games to start the season, and one Premier League goal, before Fulham's visit. Another flat performance was lifted by Watkins' leveller but at that point it could not hide the cracks - Villa failed to make a single tackle in the first half. Two goals in two second-half minutes from McGinn and Buendia turned the afternoon into a stroll."
Unai Emery showed raw emotion in goal celebrations after Aston Villa overcame an early Fulham lead. Raul Jimenez put Fulham ahead in the third minute, but Ollie Watkins equalised and John McGinn and Emi Buendia scored quick second-half goals. Emery's reaction reflected the self-imposed pressure, despite his secure position and role in appointing Roberto Olabe as president of football operations after Monchi's exit. Villa endured a deeply underwhelming start with five winless games and only one Premier League goal before this match, failing to record a first-half tackle. The victory, coming after a Europa League win over Bologna, can catalyse recovery and leaves Villa five points off the top four.
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