Aston Villa claimed a 1-0 win over local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers that helped them consolidate their place in the top four.
Villa are level on points with Chelsea in the Premier League, a remarkable achievement considering their abysmal start to the season.
The Villans were winless in their first league games and scored only two goals in that stretch. They have now won their last four league matches and 11 of their past 13 games in all competitions.
Manager Unai Emery praised Villa’s patience and resilience for the turnaround, and rightly so.
They have shown a remarkable ability to grind out results, winning their last three games by one-goal margins.
However, there are still some worrying signs in this team that Emery cannot afford to ignore.
Firstly, Aston Villa sit 17th for expected goals generated, a sign that they are not creating enough. Only West Ham United, Burnley and Wolves rank below Emery’s side.
They are not creating enough clear-cut chances, which is why Ollie Watkins is struggling in attack.
To further emphasise Villa’s lack of cutting edge in the final third, nine of their 16 Premier League goals have come from outside of the box this season.
If the Villans are serious about sustaining a top-four challenge, these numbers must improve quickly.
Relying on long-range efforts and narrow victories is an unsustainable formula across the season.
Emery needs more incision between the lines, greater creativity in wide areas, and support for Watkins in the box.
Tactical tweaks, sharper movement in attacking zones, and potentially creative reinforcements in the winter transfer window may be required to balance the system.
The defensive solidity and resilience deserve praise, but matches will soon demand more than grit and marginal gains.
The Villains have built momentum through discipline and belief.
However, they must evolve from survivors into genuine attacking contenders before their overreliance on low-probability goals catches up with them.
Stats from FotMob & Sofascore.
