Aston Villa boss Unai Emery focused on ending Crystal Palace hoodoo
Unai Emery has to forget their long-term ambitions for the season and focus only on the challenge of beating “bogey team” Crystal Palace.
Villa are just six points off the top of the Premier League after winning 13 of their last 15 top flight matches but have lost five of their last six against the Eagles, who they visit on Wednesday night.
Palace beat Emery’s men in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley last April and are also the only visiting team to win a Premier League match at Villa Park in 16 months, triumphing 3-0 in August.
Emery said: “The last example at Palace? We can speak about it. This is a challenge and to beat Palace is very difficult.
“We want to win lots of matches in a row, but it is difficult. We must now rest, and then work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on the challenge we have. Our challenge is the next match, not how we will finish the season.”
Villa will hope Ollie Watkins can continue his resurgence at Selhurst Park. The England international has scored four goals in his last three appearances to more than double his tally for the campaign.
Skipper John McGinn says there was never any doubt Watkins would find his form.
He said: “Ollie sometimes has spells like that in a season where he doesn’t seem to find the back of the net, but we had full belief that he would turn that around.
“It’s great to see him back in form, and I’m sure that any England fan watching at the minute will be happy with his form too.”
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