Ollie Watkins cut a frustrated figure after Aston Villa were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, in their final outing of 2024.
The Villans led heading into the final 10 minutes of the encounter, having gone behind early on and turned the tie around, but succumbed to a late equaliser, having controlled large parts of the clash either side of the half-time break.
Watkins, who returned to the starting 11 with a goal and an assist at Villa Park, admitted he and his teammates were not clinical enough throughout, and should have had the game wrapped up earlier.
“Really disappointing,” he said. “We’ve been in that position quite a few times this season.
“Throughout the games, in the first half of the season, we’ve failed to finish the game, see the game out. So, [it’s] disappointing.
“When we scored [the second goal], we dropped back, and I’m not sure why that is, but obviously they grew into the game and caused a lot of problems.
“We weren’t clinical in the end. We had a lot of attacks on the transition, but we weren’t clinical, myself included.
“We needed to do better in them situations, and that’s why we haven’t got three points today.
“Positive, we didn’t lose, but we should be taking all three points.”
The England international dragged Unai Emery’s side level from the penalty spot as the interval approached, before supplying the pass for Morgan Rogers’ strike within two minutes of the restart.
Watkins was pleased with his personal contribution, on what was his first start in the Premier League since the beginning of the month.
The striker, who turned 29 on the day of the game, added: “It’s always nice to score and obviously provide for my teammates, that’s what I’m there to do.
“(A) Few games out of the team, but I’m back feeling good in the team.
“Positive, but a shame I couldn’t get the final goal.”
