Ollie Watkins calls on Aston Villa to respond to Leeds defeat
Ollie Watkins has urged Villa to quickly refocus as they look to bounce back from their first defeat of the Premier League season.
Friday’s 3-0 home loss to Leeds ended an eight-match unbeaten league run stretching back to last season and denied Dean Smith’s team the chance to go top of the table.
Villa, who had won their first four matches of the campaign, now host Southampton on Sunday with Watkins looking for a swift response.
“Friday’s result does not determine us for the season. It is our first loss and it is how we bounce back,” said the striker.
“We just need to focus on the next game now. Obviously it is hard and I know it is probably not what people want to hear. They are probably annoyed after the defeat.
“But we have had such a good start to the campaign and we have to try and regain that momentum going into the Southampton game.”
Patrick Bamford’s second half hat-trick ultimately saw Villa well beaten against Leeds.
But Smith’s men had their own chances to take the lead before Bamford broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, skipper Jack Grealish twice going close.
Watkins believes the result may have turned out differently had one of those chances gone in.
“It is a tough one to take because in the first half we were definitely in the game. Jack had an effort cleared off the line,” he said.
“In the second half they started quickly but we still had chances, Jack went on a long, mazy run and nearly scored.
“I think we were unlucky. I know that seems weird when you have just been beaten 3-0 but we had chances before they scored. It comes down to fine margins.
“We will go back onto the training field, keep trying to improve and go again.”
