SM
Old Firm derby: 1 hr 57 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
AV
Premier League | Gameweek 27
Mar 6, 2021 at 5.30pm UK
Villa Park
WL

Aston Villa
0 - 0
Wolves


Sanson (27')
FT

Nuno Espirito Santo refuses to blame Romain Saiss after open goal miss

:Headline: Nuno Espirito Santo refuses to blame Romain Saiss after open goal miss: ID:438161: from db_amp
Romain Saiss' second-half miss was the closest Wolves came to winning at Villa.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo refused to blame Romain Saiss after his horror miss cost Wolves victory at Aston Villa.

The defender lifted the ball over an open goal from point-blank range after Conor Coady's header came back off the post as Wolves drew 0-0 at Villa Park.

Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa also hit the woodwork for the hosts during a bright first half but Wolves recovered after the break and should have won.

Nuno said: "It's clear he should have done better but the mistake, in our view, is something we are always supportive of. There is no problem at all. Saiss must be proud because he fought really well for the team.

"It was Coady first, the header of Coady, I know him very well and he could have done better but credit to him because it's something we are pushing him to go into the box. He has been able to find good positions.

"We had good chances and we improved a lot in the second half. The first half was not so good.

"Everything changed in the second half. It (a poor first half) is something we have to try to improve on. I wish I knew why.

Conor Coady's header came back off the post (Catherine Ivill/PA)

"We have to reflect and think like we always do, trying to find the why and then the how to stop it."

Watkins' 25-yard drive shuddered the crossbar after four minutes and, 11 minutes later, Konsa also smacked the woodwork from Bertrand Traore's cross.

Villa, ninth in the Premier League, dominated the first half but failed to test Rui Patricio which allowed Wolves to regain their composure after the break.

Pedro Neto tested Emi Martinez before Saiss should have scored after 57 minutes instead of somehow lifting his effort over after Coady's header bounced off the post.

Coady was also denied by Martinez with 16 minutes left when he turned his shot wide from close range after Ross Barkley's error in the box and Wolves stay 12th.

Villa have now scored just five goals in eight matches and – without the injured Jack Grealish again – struggled to create serious openings.

Watkins finally forced Patricio into his first save in stoppage-time and Konsa lashed the rebound wide as Villa's stuttering European hopes suffered another blow.

"When I have seen it back it's one which comes back at him and he (Saiss) inexplicably puts it over. I was certainly a relieved man after that," said Villa boss Dean Smith.

"It was a game of two halves. We were very good in the first half and they were very good in the second half. I was trying to work out if we dropped off it or they upped it and it was a bit of both.

"There were big chances at both ends and I would have celebrated if Ezri had scored at the end but it would have been unjust.

"We're creating big chances so goals are never a concern. They will certainly start going in, some of our play was our best since December. I've got no concerns, goals will certainly come."

amp_article__438161 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-03-06 21:59:12:
html db last update - 2021-03-11 01:09:35 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Read more!

Click here for more stories about Romain Saiss

Click here for more stories about Aston Villa

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal36265588286083
2Manchester CityMan City35257387335482
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs351861169581160
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351751378562256
7Chelsea351591170591154
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd35166135255-354
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham361310135670-1449
10Bournemouth36139145263-1148
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton351211125357-447
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36137164960-1146
13Fulham36128165155-444
14Crystal Palace361110154957-843
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3699185260-836
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3689194563-1829
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3659223974-3524
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd36372635100-6516
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .