Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery admitted that his team “failed to control” the game during their 2-2 draw at Ipswich Town. The West Midlands side had the chance to climb to second in the Premier League standings in Sunday’s match at Portman Road.
In an action-packed encounter against the newly promoted team, Villa had to fight back and rely on Emiliano Martinez to secure a draw.
Liam Delap gave the Tractor Boys an early lead, but goals from Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins saw Villa ahead by halftime.
Despite creating more opportunities, Villa were vulnerable defensively, and Delap’s second goal ensured a well-earned point for Kieran McKenna’s men.
What did Emery say?
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, the Spanish coach expressed no complaints about the result, acknowledging that his team didn’t deserve more than a point in East Anglia.
Emery stated: “It was a good match overall, and I think the draw was fair. We were stronger in the first half, but in the second half, we lost focus, and as a result, they scored and could have added another.”
“We had our chances, but we conceded more than usual and didn’t maintain control like we did in the first half. I’m not satisfied with the point, but I have to accept it as a fair outcome.”
“Their game plan worked, and while their goal was surprising given how well we started, I wanted us to finish strong and push back, but we didn’t manage that.”
What’s next for Villa?
The draw leaves Villa in fifth place with 13 points out of a possible 18, with their only loss coming against Arsenal.
Emery’s side is just two points behind league leaders Liverpool as they prepare to host Manchester United next Sunday.
Before that, Villa will face Bayern Munich at home in their second Champions League match, hoping to build on their opening-day win over Young Boys.
With two important games in one week, Emery must decide whether to rotate his squad, having mostly stuck with a consistent lineup for both Premier League and European fixtures this season.
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