Aston Villa boss Unai Emery admits he was left concerned by the sheer amount of chances Leeds United carved out at Villa Park on Friday night. The Whites lost the game 2-1, but they were the better side for much of the contest, managing 16 shots and forcing Emiliano Martinez into a number of fine saves.
Jesse Marsch described the contest as ‘Leeds’ most complete during his tenure’, but he could only watch on as golden opportunities to score came and went for United, who fell behind though an early Leon Bailey goal, with efforts from Rodrigo and Jack Harrison being the most notable.
Chances came in the second half, too, with Martinez being worked again before Patrick Bamford found the back of the net in the 83rd minute. That goal was ultimately nothing more than a consolation effort, with Emiliano Buendia’s 64th minute effort proving decisive.
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However, if Leeds had been more clinical under the lights in the West Midlands it could have been a very different story and Emery admits that did provide him with some cause for worry during the contest.
“Two different halves,” Emery told Sky Sports after the game. “The first we got what we wanted, but they pushed with energy and we needed to stay calm and try to break the first pressure, to attack into the spaces, and we did that very, very good. Amazing goal, amazing transition, but then we needed a good goalkeeper to save some very good actions from them.
“The second half was different, we were speaking about how we have to fight face-to-face in the duels, but we also needed to keep more possession and try to do longer possession with the ball, trying to impose and to control the game. We did in the second half amazing and scoring the second goal, we had the chances to after the first goal.
“They had as well one or two chances and didn’t score it but I think the second half was very, very different and the first half was better.
“Yes (I was concerned) but we are playing matches, we are trying to control with good positioning and don’t concede a lot of chances from the opposite side but they had big players and a style trying to put the ball in our box and get in so fast. They had chances, but I’m so happy for the big chances, for our performance.”
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