OLLIE WATKINS believes Aston Villa are finally getting to grips with grinding out results in the Premier League in the aftermath of playing in the Champions League.
The Aston Villa striker handled the early evening boos at former club Brentford to deliver a much-needed three points after the highs of the 3-1 win at Club Brugge in their last-16 first-leg tie last Tuesday.
It ended a run of seven games without a top-flight win after playing in Europe this season. Watkins admitted Villa struggled with playing three times a week while performing in the Conference League last season.
And that situation has intensified playing in Europe's premier club competition, with all the added energy-sapping attention that comes with playing on Tuesday and Wednesday nights instead of Thursdays.
Watkins said: "When you are playing teams who aren't playing in midweek, who can train all week and are definitely fresher, it can be demanding.
"The Champions League games are tough and then to travel, not have too much recovery in between and then play against a team like Brentford is tough. It shows in the results. It has been something the last couple of years we have struggled with.
"I think you saw in the first half we looked a little bit tired maybe and that is when we should be at our freshest.
"But I think in the first half we ground it out, and second half we got the goal. Three points, clean sheet, a good day." Watkins' 49th-minute strike took a slight deflection off Nathan Collins to beat Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken as the Villans maintained their push for the top four.
The irony of Villa's domestic struggles after performing beyond all expectations in Europe is that fifth place may be good enough to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Watkins said: "Our away form hasn't been great. Had we just won a few more we would be where (third-placed) Nottingham Forest are.
"But we still ha...
The Aston Villa striker handled the early evening boos at former club Brentford to deliver a much-needed three points after the highs of the 3-1 win at Club Brugge in their last-16 first-leg tie last Tuesday.
It ended a run of seven games without a top-flight win after playing in Europe this season. Watkins admitted Villa struggled with playing three times a week while performing in the Conference League last season.
And that situation has intensified playing in Europe's premier club competition, with all the added energy-sapping attention that comes with playing on Tuesday and Wednesday nights instead of Thursdays.
Watkins said: "When you are playing teams who aren't playing in midweek, who can train all week and are definitely fresher, it can be demanding.
"The Champions League games are tough and then to travel, not have too much recovery in between and then play against a team like Brentford is tough. It shows in the results. It has been something the last couple of years we have struggled with.
"I think you saw in the first half we looked a little bit tired maybe and that is when we should be at our freshest.
"But I think in the first half we ground it out, and second half we got the goal. Three points, clean sheet, a good day." Watkins' 49th-minute strike took a slight deflection off Nathan Collins to beat Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken as the Villans maintained their push for the top four.
The irony of Villa's domestic struggles after performing beyond all expectations in Europe is that fifth place may be good enough to qualify for the Champions League this season.
Watkins said: "Our away form hasn't been great. Had we just won a few more we would be where (third-placed) Nottingham Forest are.
"But we still ha...
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Daily Mirror UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 10, 2025