Ollie Watkins: Aston Villa must learn to win ugly

Dean Smith’s team returned to the Midlands empty-handed despite twice leading and dominating for long periods at Turf Moor.

They will aim to quickly bounce back at Southampton tomorrow night with Watkins, who put Villa ahead with his eighth Premier League goal of the season, admitting their game management must improve. Having been pegged back by Ben Mee’s equaliser, Villa went back ahead through Jack Grealish midway through the second half.

Watkins said: “From there we should see it out with about 15 minutes to go. We should slow the game down and play ugly, really, but I don’t think we did that.

“It’s tough to lose. I don’t think we started either half very well, but we went ahead in the game twice and we should have seen it out.”

Watkins’ goal was his second in as many games after snapping a nine-match goal drought when he netted in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle.

The 25-year-old has 10 goals in all competitions since joining in a club record £28million deal from Brentford last summer.

Smith said: “Ollie will be the first to say he has left quite a few out there as well.

“But as I’ve said many times the kid will keep getting better and better. I had no doubts he would reach double figures (this season) and go on as well.

“He had a one-on-one against Burnley on Wednesday, when it looked like he got fouled and he ended up just toeing the ball. He was a handful for their centre-halves.”