As Aston Villa appeared to be cantering towards a fourth successive victory in all competitions, it was hard not to wonder: what was all the fuss about? Donyell Malen was the match-winner for Villa in Unai Emery’s 150th game in charge of the club, the Dutchman applying a pair of expert finishes after seizing a rare start, this his fourth in the league since signing from Borussia Dortmund in January. Out of nowhere Burnley halved the deficit through the substitute Lesley Ugochukwu, who headed in on 78 minutes, but a first away point this season proved beyond them.
“Malen! Malen! Malen!” was the chant that rained down from the stands at the final whistle and while these were his first goals of the season and Erling Haaland is fast approaching 20 for club and country, this double felt significant. “It’s important to keep working, whenever you have a chance to be there,” Malen said. “Last season we were in the Champions League so we have to push for that again.”
