For a team who have conquered nearly all before them in Europe this season, Aston Villa continue to struggle on their domestic travels, as Unai Emery’s side collected a solitary point at relegated Burnley that leaves a top-five finish still three points from a mathematical certainty.
After making seven changes in a shock defeat by Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, Emery opted for only three at Turf Moor and, while the performance was far better, his team were still unable to record the win that would have taken them to the brink of Champions League qualification, via the Premier League table at least.
The result leaves Villa without a win in their past six top-flight away fixtures, although, with an eye on that Europa League final date with Freiburg in ten days’ time, the absence of any fresh, obvious injury concerns for Emery was a bonus. But a return of six league away wins all season represents only one more than they have recorded on their European travels.
Well-taken goals by Ross Barkley, one of the three changes, and Ollie Watkins should have been enough for Villa but, after the latter had put his team a goal up in the second half, Emery saw his side surrender that advantage two minutes later.
They bristle at being called the “nearly men” at Villa, but this was another example of being so close to the desired outcome but falling just short at pivotal moments. The failure to win also puts even more focus on Villa’s next league game, their last before the Europa final against Freiburg in Istanbul on May 20 — the visit of Liverpool to Villa Park on Friday.
With Villa and Liverpool level on points, each may need a win to be mathematically certain of a top-five finish that guarantees Champions League football next season although Villa, of course, have the added fallback of being able to qualify by beating Freiburg.
Anthony put Burnley ahead in the eighth minute after a rare mistake from the Villa goalkeeper MartínezDavid Blunsden/Action Plus/Shutterstock
Emery, however, was understandably supportive of a squad that is clearly showing signs of a marathon campaign. “Four months ago, you were asking me if we were contenders to win the title, we were two or three points behind Arsenal, behind Manchester City, and I said, ‘Ask me after game 34,’ ” the head coach said.
“So, now I’ll answer myself! It’s fantastic to be where we are, the Premier League for us is fantastic. Today, a point is not enough, I know that. But what we’re showing in both competitions — like Arsenal and Crystal Palace — to play in Europe and be in the top positions of the Premier League is very difficult.”
If Villa were looking to arrest recent away difficulties against a team relegated from the Premier League nearly three weeks ago, they found Burnley in uncooperative mood, and themselves a goal down in only the eighth minute, after a rare mistake from their goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez, who parried a long shot from Lesley Ugochukwu directly to Jaidon Anthony, who scored into an empty net.
Barkley glanced in from a corner to equalise with his third league goal this seasonJan Kruger/Getty Images
For Burnley supporters who had seen their side in front for a grand total of 166 minutes at home this season, it was just the start they had been hoping for, but after Zian Flemming had wasted a glorious chance to double the lead just before the half-hour mark, Villa asserted more control, with Barkley increasingly influential.
He might have equalised soon after the opener but flicked an effort just wide. However, after Watkins had a 38th-minute goal ruled out by VAR for offside, Barkley was credited with the visitors’ first goal. His long shot was well saved by the Burnley goalkeeper, Max Weiss, although at the expense of a corner. Taken by John McGinn, Barkley timed his near-post run perfectly and glanced in a finish that Kyle Walker could only help in.
It was an illustration of how many weapons Emery has in his attacking arsenal although he probably did not expect Martínez to figure quite so prominently when Villa took the lead after 56 minutes. The goalkeeper’s perfect 70-yard pass, from the edge of his own area, allowed Watkins a touch as he beat Burnley’s two central defenders and scored with a superb finish under the advancing Weiss, who was making his Premier League debut.
Watkins put Villa 2-1 up after a perfect 70-yard pass from Martínez, but their lead lasted only two minutesPaul Currie/Shutterstock
Against a team so low on confidence, that should have been enough. Instead, Matty Cash was dispossessed by Anthony and Ugochukwu’s pass was back-heeled by Hannibal Mejbri into the path of Flemming, who produced an accurate finish from 15 yards.
Martínez saved well from long shots by Tchaouna and Zeki Amdouni, but Villa enjoyed by far the better of the remaining chances, including a late penalty appeal, turned down by VAR, after a Walker challenge on Emiliano Buendía.
“We’ve not been good enough throughout the season, we know that, but you can’t live in the past and I thought it was a good performance, we showed a lot of character,” Michael Jackson, Burnley’s interim head coach, said.
Burnley (4-2-3-1): M Weiss — K Walker, A Tuanzebe, M Estève, L Pires — Florentino (J Ward-Prowse 87min), L Ugochukwu (J Laurent 79) — L Tchaouna, H Mejbri (L Foster 69), J Anthony (J Bruun Larsen 87) — Z Flemming (Z Amdouni 79). Booked Flemming.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): E Martínez — M Cash (L Bogarde 80), E Konsa, T Mings, I Maatsen (L Digne 74) — V Lindelof (E Buendía 74), Y Tielemans — J McGinn (L Bailey 85), R Barkley (D Luiz 80), M Rogers — O Watkins. Booked Mings.
Referee A Taylor.