Unai Emery’s masterclass as Aston Villa beat Bournemouth and Erling Haaland’s poor return – Premier League hits and misses

Emery produces managerial masterclass

Shedding your finest participant and January marquee signing to season-ending accidents? Going through a slick attacking outfit in Bournemouth? No downside for Unai Emery.

This was a basic Emery efficiency which rubber-stamped his standing as among the best managers you need in your nook at this finish of the season. This was a tactical masterclass.

Villa’s ahead line was weakened on account of accidents to Marcus Rashford – and extra not too long ago Youri Tielemans. The Belgian has held the keys to unlocking defences so Emery shut up store.

Victory at Bournemouth noticed Villa file their lowest possession numbers for a sport in two years. Additionally they made it a stop-start sport to disclaim the Cherries any form of move – this contest noticed 21 playing cards over the 2 video games, essentially the most for a fixture in a single marketing campaign in Premier League historical past.

No surprise Bournemouth may solely produce 1.1 price of anticipated objectives over the course of the 2 video games – by far and away the bottom they’ve managed towards any workforce this time period.

Within the battle of the Basque managers, Emery has acquired one over Andoni Iraola as soon as once more. With two huge ‘cup finals’ to return in Villa’s quest for Champions League soccer, anticipate Emery to maintain delivering.
Sam Blitz

Wieffer’s Wolves redemption for Brighton

Mats Wieffer endured one of the awkward moments of his Brighton profession within the reverse fixture towards Wolves in October, surrendering possession in a five-against-one state of affairs late on solely to see Matheus Cunha go up the opposite finish and rating an equaliser.

This was revenge of types. It was Wieffer’s urgent that dispossessed Cunha earlier than drawing a foul from the striker, successful the penalty from which Danny Welbeck fired Brighton forward. The Seagulls went on to win 2-0 – retaining that benefit this time.

Wieffer made 9 tackles within the sport, greater than anybody else on the pitch and 3 times as many as any of his Brighton team-mates. The Dutchman is a pure midfielder however excelled at right-back. And now has higher reminiscences of enjoying towards Wolves.
Adam Bate

Indicators that life past Mbeumo could possibly be simply as fruitful for Bees

Christian Norgaard instructed Sky Sports activities this week that Bryan Mbeumo is more likely to depart Brentford in the summertime amid rampant rumours in regards to the 25-year-old’s rapid future.

There is not any understating Mbeumo’s efficiency: 18 objectives this marketing campaign and eight assists – the most recent of which arrange Kevin Schade’s winner at Ipswich – inform the story of what Mbeumo is price to the Bees.

Nonetheless, in the identical breath, Brentford are the one workforce to have three gamers in double digits for objectives this marketing campaign. Schade’s header was objective No 11 for the German, whereas Yoane Wissa has matched Mbeumo’s return with 18 within the league.

Their collective output has answered questions over whether or not they may exchange departed striker Ivan Toney’s affect. Requested about his ahead line, Brentford boss Thomas Frank mentioned: “We always create goalscorers.”

Mbeumo’s departure would depart enormous footwear to fill however, primarily based on present proof, Brentford have what it takes to fill them, whether or not from inside their present squad or by counting on their fruitful recruitment.
William Bitibiri

Saints spoil Haaland return and blow CL race huge open

It wasn’t the return Erling Haaland had hoped for. The ahead made his first begin since March 30 at St Mary’s Stadium however was restricted to simply 17 touches all afternoon, 5 of which arrived within the first half.

Metropolis struggled to create something towards bottom-of-the-table Southampton however did have recent impetus when Omar Marmoush stepped onto the sphere within the 84th minute.

Marmoush greater than doubled Haaland’s anticipated objectives worth on the afternoon in a fraction of the time and with much more strain now piled on the ultimate video games of the season towards Bournemouth and Fulham, a critical query must be requested as to who leads the road for Metropolis.

Metropolis cannot afford one other slip-up within the race for the highest 5.

Standard story prices Fulham

Begin quick, rating early after which implode – it was the identical outdated story for Fulham towards Everton.

Their European hopes are in tatters after failing to capitalise on yet one more lead. Fulham have now dropped 28 factors from successful positions this season, the joint-most within the Premier League with Southampton.

Marco Silva identified that his aspect have gained 18 factors when trailing however it’s their lack of ability to complete groups off or win ugly that has price them.

Fulham let Everton again into the match earlier than half-time regardless of dominating the primary half-hour. When their high-tempo begins to fade, they lack management and resilience. It was related within the second half as they gifted Everton a three-minute double.

If Fulham are to harbour any critical ambitions of European soccer subsequent season, then they have to discover a method to handle video games extra successfully. Flashes of brilliance and early dominance rely for little with out the grit to keep up management and see out outcomes.

Silva has carried out beautifully to re-establish Fulham again within the Premier League and this season might be seen as one other overachievement, albeit outlined by what may need been.
David Richardson

Bournemouth want so as to add guile to their power-packed play

Bournemouth are heading in the right direction for a record-breaking season beneath Andoni Iraola by way of factors received and they’re an thrilling workforce to observe. When they’re allowed to, they’re daring and courageous with the ball. Nonetheless, there are clear indicators of their efficiency metrics that they’re flagging down the run-in, particularly at house.

Bournemouth have received simply one in every of their final seven Premier League house video games and the underlying numbers have adopted swimsuit by way of decline. Groups have discovered a blueprint to cease Iraola-ball, by proscribing these excessive turnovers Bournemouth like to create and permitting them to have extra of the ball. That is an space the place Iraola must develop his workforce and that was on present towards Aston Villa.

They should be higher at creating probabilities from open play towards well-drilled defences. The squad is packed stuffed with a number of highly effective, speedy gamers however ones with not a lot guile and soccer intelligence in ahead areas. That profile of participant needs to be prime of their summer season procuring listing.
Lewis Jones