Analysis: Aston Villa players must answer Unai Emery's rallying call after Wolves defeat heightens fears of season's collapse
Unai Emery used the aftermath of Friday’s derby defeat at Wolves to issue a rallying call, yet rarely have there been greater doubts about his team’s ability to answer it.
This was the kind of night which for supporters only intensified fears a season which just a few weeks ago looked capable of reaching almost unimaginable heights is instead poised to come crashing down.
Facing a team which had won just once in the Premier League all season, with the chance to extend the gap over their challengers in the race for Champions League football heading into the weekend, Villa submitted arguably their worst-ever performance and result of Emery’s reign.
Prior to Friday, there were more reasons to be optimistic than not about Villa’s chances of fending off at least one of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in the battle for a top-five finish.
Now, suddenly, it feels like all bets are off. The stodgy displays and indifferent form of the past month is threatening to become more than a mere blip.
Wolves, of course, deserve credit for the way they battled and ultimately produced the night’s one real moment of quality to sneak ahead through Joao Gomes’ 61st minute opener.
That does not excuse Villa, who somehow managed to play beneath the level of a team which had lost 10 out of their previous 14 Premier League home matches.
