Former Aston Villa striker Chris Sutton has robustly dismissed suggestions that the club's recent goalscoring form is unsustainable, branding the debate surrounding their expected goals (xG) as "nonsense".
Villa's Winning Run Faces Scrutiny
Aston Villa secured a crucial 1-0 West Midlands derby victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Villa Park on Sunday, thanks to a superb long-range strike from Boubacar Kamara. The win marked their seventh Premier League triumph in eight matches, a run that has propelled them into strong contention for a top-four finish as rivals like Liverpool and Tottenham have stumbled.
Despite the impressive results, Unai Emery's side has faced criticism for creating fewer clear-cut chances this season. Furthermore, striker Ollie Watkins has found goals hard to come by, netting just once in 19 appearances.
Sutton's Blunt Defence of Villa's Strategy
Speaking while predicting midweek fixtures for BBC Sport, Sutton directly addressed the statistical debate. "There is apparently some debate about whether Villa's xG is unsustainable because they are scoring from long range, but that's nonsense," the former Villans forward stated.
He passionately defended the team's approach, arguing: "Villa have good players who can shoot from the edge of the box, so are you seriously going to tell them not to shoot now, because of xG? Give me a break."
However, Sutton predicted Villa's demanding schedule might catch up with them in their next outing. He forecast a 2-1 defeat away to a Brighton & Hove Albion side in strong home form under manager Fabian Hurzeler.
Emery and Kamara Reflect on Derby Triumph
Match-winner Boubacar Kamara highlighted the importance of the derby victory, stating the team knew it was a "special game for the fans". He praised his side's second-half improvement and the role of the Villa Park atmosphere.
On his stunning match-winning goal, the midfielder said: "It's very fast so good control, I try to shoot and after I see the ball was good. I'm happy with the goal."
Manager Unai Emery, whose team travels to face Brighton on Wednesday night, commended his players for practising and executing long-range efforts. "They practice a lot in training and then you must show it in the matches. The goal was fantastic," Emery said.
With their sights set on a fourth consecutive league win, Villa's methods continue to yield points, even as the conversation around their sustainability rumbles on.
