Aston Villa

David Michael
Fan writer

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For the second consecutive season, Aston Villa have found themselves in a semi-final they were favourites to win - only to limp out in embarrassing fashion.

Last year it was the Europa Conference League, where Villa were humbled 6-2 on aggregate by Olympiakos in a defensively shambolic two-legged performance.

At the heart of the first-leg 4-2 collapse at Villa Park was the surprise inclusion of Clément Lenglet, recalled from the fringes instead of Pau Torres, and central to much of what went wrong on the night.

Fast forward to the weekend's 3-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat against Crystal Palace at Wembley. Despite seemingly having found a defensive formula that helped dismantle Newcastle United 4-1 only days earlier, Unai Emery opted to leave out both Tyrone Mings and Ian Maatsen. This time, it was Pau Torres' turn to be the fall guy at the back.

While questions have lingered over the mentality of some Villa players in high-pressure games - with performances often shrinking under the spotlight - Emery's persistent defensive tinkering has increasingly become a liability.

Until it is addressed, it's hard to see this Villa team reaching the heights their attacking potential promises.

The numbers back it up: Villa have made more than twice as many defensive errors leading to opponent shots compared to last season. It has compromised their goal difference - leaving them effectively an extra point adrift in the race for a top-five finish and Champions League football.

As Sir Alex Ferguson famously said, "Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles." It's a truth that spans across all team sports - and one that Emery must urgently heed.

Villa's evolution under Emery has been transformative. But to truly fulfil their ambitions, they must find defensive consistency. Otherwise, as the latest semi-final heartbreak proved once again, this exciting team will remain fatally vulnerable at the moments when it matters most.

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With Marcus Rashford's injury, we asked you if Ollie Watkins will step up at Aston Villa for the remainder of the season.

Here are some of your comments:

Prit: Ollie was fuming, now he has an opportunity to show us just how good he really is, how good he can become and whether Unai Emery needs to go all out to sign Rashford. After his near invisible performance against Palace in the FA Cup, he has a lot to make up to us Villa supporters.

Matt: Ollie Watkins probably feels very disrespected this season having been dropped for two different strikers. If I were him, I'd probably be looking elsewhere.

Rob: You're off the hook, Ollie. Needing too many chances to score, Unai got fed up and began starting Marcus instead. Now he's injured, you're back as number one. Please take this chance, and propel us back into Europe next season.

Ian: I think Aston Villa will lose Watkins and Rashford at the end of the season. Rashford will want to play in the Champions League and Watkins has upset the apple cart. Let him go to Arsenal if they want him now.

Tim: More importantly it will give a chance to Malen - he's looked good in the few cameos afforded him so far and he is definitely good back up for Watkins.

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Marcus Rashford is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, so what does that now mean for Ollie Watkins?

Can the England international overcome his lack of minutes in recent weeks and prove why he remains the main man at Villa?

Or will the summer see him being moved on regardless of whether Rashford signs permanently?

Let us know your thoughts

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Former Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says it "was a very disappointing performance" against Crystal Palace on Saturday and concedes he is concerned about the noise surrounding Ollie Watkins.

The England international has been a Villa substitute for some big games this season, especially since the arrival of Marcus Rashford in January, and has become increasingly frustrated by Unai Emery's decisions.

"Watkins has been the main man at Villa for so long, but Unai Emery seems to be favouring Rashford more," said Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "The one thing we will never know is what Emery's man-management skills are like with these players.

"It is healthy for a club like Villa to have competition for places, especially when Watkins has been there for so long.

"I love that he is angry and he is fuming because that is what you want from your players. You don't want them to settle for the bench - you want them to be competitive - but it seems the dynamic has now been upset in the process.

"I think the way Emery has gone about it all could have been better publicly to keep it more healthy between them. He could have come out and said that Watkins is still their main striker but he is rotating to calm the media.

"It's about not letting the stories gain momentum on the press side and that is what Emery has allowed to happen."

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup semi-final between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, which saw Unai Emery's side crash out of the competition.

Here are some of your replies:

Rob: Terrible performance. Unai got it wrong. What is it with our performances against Palace? It was as if we knew we would lose so we didn't make the effort. Passes were going astray, we were not closing them down and virtually everyone was having an off day. One to forget.

Rich: Awful, devoid of ideas and tired. Crystal Palace were much the better team. Every turn, flick and dummy was easy to snuff out. Suddenly our season looks as barren as all of the others.

Mike: That was simply embarrassing. Villa were second best in every position throughout the 101 minutes of play. Whatever Emery's Plan A was, it clearly wasn't working from about five minutes in and then there was no Plan B. Full credit to Glasner and his players as they turned up. Villa simply gave them absolutely nothing to beat. From here the season fizzles out into Conference League qualification. At best.

Cassie: Fair play to Palace - they read Villa very well and at the start soaked up what Villa tried to attack with. Then they taught Villa a lesson. Our dreams of maybe winning the Champions League are gone, the FA Cup is gone and finishing in the top four is gone. Three words I don't want to use: Thursday Night Football.

Gordon: Our manager does not appreciate the importance of the FA Cup to English and Welsh fans. He has treated it as a minor competition. Last time Villa won the FA Cup, I was two years old and I hoped this could be our year.

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has been speaking to BBC Sport about the performance: "When they scored the first goal, it was more difficult for us and we only reacted after 2-0. Then we created more chances to score and we didn't score. In transition, they are very good and they deserved to win.

"After the first goal, we pushed some corners. We had our moments but we have to accept defeat. We were motivated for the semi-final and we lost, but we keep going.

"Two years ago, when I arrived here, we were in a really bad moment. We are improving and our level is going up so quickly. Yes, of course, we lost in the Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos as well.

"Everything we are doing is increasing our demands and today the loss is something we have to accept. Sorry to our supporters because they were motivated.

"We have to be quick to react because in the league we have the most important objective. Today we lost, thank you to our supporters, congratulations to Crystal Palace, and we keep going. Now it is finished and we focus on the next match."

On Marcus Rashford: "I told you, he is injured."

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Aston Villa captain John McGinn has been speaking to BBC Sport after being knocked out of the FA Cup: "Obviously, a massive disappointment. The manager spoke at length in there to remind us of how far we have come. It's not to get away from the disappointment.

"What was at stake today was huge for both clubs but, for us, we are craving success and a trophy. The club has not experienced that for a long time.

"But the manager doesn't have to rant and rave, it was a huge disappointment. We are going to use the hurt from today to come back stronger next season and hopefully get the supporters another trip to Wembley.

"The overriding feeling is hurt and disappointment. We've got an important last four games to achieve European football again and get back into the Champions League, so we can't sulk for too long."

On why they couldn't challenge Palace today: "We weren't at our best, it was clear. But there are big moments in the game where Crystal Palace did better than us. I don't think anyone could watch the game and think Palace didn't deserve to win."

On bouncing back from the disappointment: "We have had a lot of praise for last couple of seasons, now we will get criticism. We have got to take it on the chin, puff our chests out, and try to stay together.

"It is easy for a day like this to disrupt and dismantle what we are building, but we are building something special. Everyone within the club and outside the club can see that. The manager, the staff and the owners we have got - this club is set up and we'll be back here.

"At the moment, it stings. But some days football comes and punches you in the face and today is one of those days."

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Aston Villa have lost seven of their past nine games at Wembley in all competitions, winning the other two games.

Unai Emery's side have also lost three of their past six games in all competitions (W3), as many as in their prior 21 matches (W13 D5).

Were you at Wembley or following from elsewhere?

Palace fans, what did you make of the game?

What did you think of your team's performance, Villa fans?

Come back to this page on Sunday to find a selection of your replies

The first of two FA Cup semi-finals take place on Saturday live from Wembley and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Crystal Palace v Aston Villa (17:15)

Listen to full commentary from Wembley on BBC Radio 5 Live here

Follow all of the action and reaction here

It's interesting how Palace have got a good record against Villa this season.

They knocked them out of the Carabao Cup at Villa Park in October, led twice when they drew there in the league in November and then beat them 4-1 at Selhurst Park in February.

That will give the Eagles some confidence and, if they play like they did against Arsenal on Wednesday, they have got a great chance of getting through. They rested Jean-Philippe Mateta at the Emirates Stadium but created loads of chances and should have won.

It was a very different Palace performance to the one I watched when I was at St James' Park last week, when they were torn apart by Newcastle, so it's hard to know what to expect here.

The fact Villa have struggled against them this season shows what Palace are capable of, given how good Unai Emery's side have been.

As well as the FA Cup, Villa are still in the race for the top five and did so well to reach the Champions League quarter-finals too.

Emery deserves a bit of silverware to reflect the excellent job he has done but we know football doesn't work like that.

Villa were unlucky to lose to Manchester City on Tuesday but the question is whether they have got another big performance in them, like the ones they have produced in Europe.

My head tells me that if Villa turn up then Palace won't beat them again, but I still think this will be extremely close and it will go to extra-time before Villa's bench wins it for them.

Sutton's prediction: 2-3 after extra-time

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner suggested it was unfair that Aston Villa had an extra day to prepare for their FA Cup semi-final but does that actually have an impact?

Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown addresses the issue on The Football News Show...

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Marcus Rashford was prefered to Ollie Watkins in Aston Villa's Champions League quarter-final second leg win over PSG and their most recent Premier League game against Manchester City but who should start in the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace?

Hannah Gowen from fan channel Up The Villa outlines the case for Watkins on The Football News Show while former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown believes Unai Emery should not take sentiment into account when choosing his starting 11.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer