Emery assesses Leeds draw

Unai Emery evaluated Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw with Leeds at Villa Park on Saturday, admitting it was not the best result, nor the worst.

Villa were behind for almost an hour in B6, after Anton Stach’s free-kick had put the visitors ahead in the first half, before Tammy Abraham’s late strike salvaged a point for the Villans.

Emery admitted a draw was not the result he had hoped for, but in the circumstances, to take something from the game was pleasing.

He said: “It’s not the best result, it’s not worst. When we were losing in the minute 89, 1-0, to draw this match was really something fantastic.

“We must be positive. We must accept this result in the Premier League because every team (is) showing their capacity, how difficult is the Premier League, for us, for other teams.

“How we are third, still being there, how we achieved today one point like how we were, I think should be something (we) must accept like a positive result and keep going forward, because we are going to try to be consistent in 38 matches.

“Now we are (on) the day 27, we’re still being third. Of course, we lost some points at home, normally we weren’t losing before, but I am positive with how we are going to continue working, building the team.

“We are going to recover again, our good mood here at home with our supporters and with our structure, tactically and individually.”

Coming off the bench, Abraham’s clever finish restored parity two minutes from time and ensure Emery’s men would take a share of the spoils – his second goal in and many games.

Emery praised the impact of his January recruit, and how he is working hard and committing to the side’s cause.

“Fantastic,” Unai added, speaking to VillaTV after the game. “He scored last week, he scored today.

“He’s here to compete with (Ollie) Watkins, sometimes one, sometimes another. Something they must play together, like they did today, and they must try to add numbers for us.

“Numbers for other strikers normally is scoring or assists, but it’s good, how he’s being committed to help us like he did today.”

Watch Emery’s full post-match interview with VillaTV now, by clicking below.