Unai Emery credited Aston Villa's mentality for their 3-1 win over Burnley on Sunday, which ended their Premier League away day woes.
Matty Cash scored twice in the first 20 minutes to give Aston Villa a 2-0 lead at Burnley, but Lyle Foster pulled one back for the hosts early in the second half. Villa then had to defend for long periods as Burnley pressed for an equaliser, but Moussa Diaby sealed the win for Villa with a goal just after the hour.
Villa made the trip north without a league away win in their last five matches, having opened the season on the wrong end of a 5-1 scoreline at Newcastle, but put that to rest with a convincing display, having had several opportunities to add to the score late on.
“The players were very, very aware about how we can again be competitive away,” Emery said. “We did it last year. Of course it is always more difficult than at home but we were very focused and consistent.
“We were strong offensively and defensively…the players used their qualities to get the performance we wanted.”
Villa had bossed the first half, limiting Burnley to only a couple of openings while creating several of their own, but after Foster brushed aside Pau Torres to get Burnley back in it, Emery’s side had to weather something of a storm as the hosts poured forward in search of an equaliser.
A couple of defensive mix-ups aided Burnley’s cause but they could not capitalise before Diaby struck on the break.
“To control the game for 90 minutes is always difficult,” Emery said. “The opponent is playing at home with their supporters, they are pushing to do something and when they scored in the second half it was a difficult moment but we reacted very well. We finished the match again being strong.”
Robin Olsen started in goal for Villa, his first Premier League start since New Year’s Day, with Emi Martinez sidelined by a calf issue picked up in Wednesday’s 5-0 Europa Conference League play-off win over Hibernian.
“I think Emi in a few days is going to be ready again,” Emery said. “I don’t know if it’s Thursday or Sunday but it’s very important to try to give other players chances and Robin Olsen got a good result.”
Defeat leaves Burnley pointless after their first two matches back in the Premier League, having been out of action last weekend after their trip to face fellow new boys Luton was postponed.
After a 21-match unbeaten run at Turf Moor offered the foundation of their title-winning campaign in the Championship last term, Burnley have lost to both Manchester City and Villa at home in the last fortnight, but boss Vincent Kompany remains confident his side will find their feet.
“Look at the other teams that got promoted,” he said, pointing to the fact Sheffield United and Luton also remain pointless. “It’s a tough league and the entry price is the highest in world football, the jump from the Championship to the Premier League.
“Of course we can do it. The thing for us is to take the positives from this game and maintain them. There are a lot of positives but the negatives are how we conceded the goals. That’s something in my opinion we can fix. I’ve not seen anything that with a bit of time and experience you can’t fix.”
