Emery gets his man at last as Aston Villa equal 91-year record with Man City win
Leon Bailey set Villa Park alight as Unai Emery finally got his man.
The Jamaican international bagged a superb solo strike as records went a-tumbling at Villa’s fortress. Bailey struck a deserved winner 16 minutes from time as Emery put one over Pep Guardiola at the 14th attempt as Villa picked up a 1-0 win in the Premier League.
The two managers had gone head to head 13 times in the past and Villa’s boss had never been on the winning side. But that changed as Villa sent out a message that they are a force to be reckoned with this season.
The triumph equalled a record stretching back to 1932 of 14 successive victories at their famous old stadium. But more impressive than that was how this was earned. Manchester City may have been reeling from the shock of seeing Spurs bag an injury-time equaliser at the Etihad at the weekend.
They may have been without suspended Jack Grealish and Rodri. And they may be fighting a battle to retain their Champions League title. But they met their match as Villa tore into them from the first whistle.
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Shortly after Bailey netted his goal, Guardiola's side had gone over an hour without posting a worthwhile effort on Emi Martinez’s goal. Contrast that with the workload that Ederson had to contend with in the visitors’ goal and the two were as different as chalk and cheese.
Villa flew out of the blocks. Bailey chased down a ball over the top, hitting a half-volley with his right foot that Ederson tipped around the post. From the corner, Pau Torres struck a better effort that brought an even better save. But it takes more than a brief early flurry to knock Manchester City out of their stride. Back they came, Phil Foden feeding Erling Haaland who took one touch before firing across Emi Martinez.
Unai Emery finally got the better of Pep Guardiola (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)The Argentine palmed the ball clear. Bernardo Silva collected and then chipped it back to the far post where the Norwegian international was waiting. His header was firm but Martinez scrambled to keep it out. Bailey tried again, this time from 25 yards with his more favoured left foot. Ederson palmed over. After 30 minutes, the shot count was 8-2 in Villa’s favour. Over-awed, they weren’t.
The scoreline, however, remained goalless. Plenty of home players have wilted or not produced under the sometimes unforgiving eye of the Villa Park crowd. Yet when they are as one with the team – as they were on Wednesday night – it took everything the champions had to keep the game on level terms going into the break.
The question was whether Emery’s side could keep up the intensity for a full 90 minutes against a team who are pass masters. Guardiola’s side had struggled to maintain any fluency for 45 minutes but started the second period with a much better grasp of possession.
But Villa still enjoyed the better chances. John McGinn, who was a man-on-a-mission all evening, narrowly slotted wide before Bailey grabbed his chance. He had been a thorn in the side all evening. This was easily his best show in a Villa shirt. He ran directly at the heart of Guardiola’s defence. He produced a neat piece of skill to throw Josko Gvardiol off the scent.
And then he took aim with his right foot. It wasn’t his most convincing strike but it hit Ruben Dias on the foot and looped into the net. Villa Park erupted in joy. Emery had his man. On the outside, he looked calm. One the inside, he was dancing – mirroring the mood inside a stadium he has transformed inside 18 months.
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