Watkins and Duran seal fightback win for Villa to heap more woe on Dyche

Ollie Watkins scored twice and Jhon Duran netted a wonder goal as Aston Villa came from two goals down to beat Everton 3-2 at Villa Park in the Premier League on Saturday.

The home side enjoyed the best of the early exchanges, but it was Everton who took a shock lead against the run of play when Dwight McNeil dispossessed former Toffee Amadou Onana, drove towards goal and steered a shot beyond Emiliano Martinez from the edge of the box.

Sean Dyche’s side, who lost all three of their opening Premier League games, then doubled their advantage before 30 minutes when Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed home McNeil’s set-piece from the edge of the six-yard box.

The visitors’ two-goal cushion did not last long, though, as Watkins ended his goal drought and netted his first of the season to halve the deficit with a back-post header on his 150th Premier League appearance.

Everton had a golden chance to extend their lead and restore their two-goal cushion when Calvert-Lewin was unleashed one-on-one, but he hesitated in front of goal as Ezri Konsa charged back to poke the ball away from danger.

And the away side would quickly live to regret the missed opportunity, as Villa pulled level just five minutes later. Youri Tielemans clipped a cross into the box for Watkins to bring down and excellently poke beyond Jordan Pickford for his second goal of the match.

Villa completed the comeback in stunning fashion, as substitute Duran picked up possession from deep and took one touch to get the ball out of his feet before he powered a superb strike into the top-left corner from 30 yards out.

Almost instantly, Calvert-Lewin’s shot crashed off the underside of the bar as Everton threatened to equalise, but the home side held on for a valuable three points.

It must have been deja vu for Everton fans, who watched on as their team succumbed to a fourth successive defeat. But what is worse than a fourth defeat in as many games, is the way Dyche’s side handled the game after going 2-0 up, throwing away a two-goal lead once again.

It was the same against Bournemouth before the international break – perhaps not quite as dramatic – when Everton led 2-0 with 87 minutes on the clock before losing 3-2. Dyche will be furious, but there were plenty of positives for The Toffees to take, like Calvert-Lewin’s performance up front.

As for Villa, they can breathe a sigh of relief. Both for the result and the fact Watkins is back firing after a rare sticky patch.

Watkins has struggled in front of goal lately, but perhaps he was saving his next strike for a special occasion on his landmark 150th Premier League game. When Villa needed him most, he stepped up with two crucial goals to pull the hosts level when they were threatened by a shock defeat to a side in rock-bottom form.

It would have been hard to see Villa mount a comeback without his attacking excellence, and the striker – who scored 19 top-flight goals last season – has opened his account for the current campaign which can only be a good thing ahead of their UEFA Champions League return on Tuesday.

Aston Villa starting line-up: Martinez 6, Bogarde 7, Konsa 7, Torres 7, Digne 7, McGinn 7, Onana 5, Tielemans 7, Rogers 7, Ramsey 6, Watkins 9

Aston Villa subs: Maatsen 6, Barkley 7, Buendia N/A, Philogene-Bidace N/A, Duran 8

Everton starting line-up: Pickford 6, Young 6, Tarkowski 6, Keane 6, Mykolenko 6, Iroegbunam 6, Gueye 5, Ndiaye 7, Harrison 7, McNeil 8, Calvert-Lewin 8

Everton subs: O’Brien 6, Garner 6, Mangala 6, Beto N/A, Lindstrom N/A

16’ – GOAL!!! – ASTON VILLA 0-1 EVERTON (MCNEIL): Wow! Everton take the lead against the run of play! Onana is dispossessed by McNeil in the middle of the park and the Everton man drives into space, shifts the ball to his left on the edge of the box and steers it beyond Martinez to give the visitors the lead!

27’ – GOAL!!! – ASTON VILLA 0-2 EVERTON (CALVERT-LEWIN): Everton double their lead! McNeil swings in a free-kick from the right and Dominic Calvert-Lewin heads the ball into the far corner to make it 2-0!

36’ – GOAL!!! – ASTON VILLA 1-2 EVERTON (WATKINS): The drought is over and Villa halve the deficit! Digne dinks a cross towards the back post and Watkins outmuscles Michael Keane to nod the ball in from close range. Just what the home side needed!

45’ – ROGERS CAN’T BRING IT DOWN! Tielemans lofts a brilliant ball over the top for Rogers to run on to and if he brings it down, he’s in, but he can’t and the ball rolls into the arms of Pickford. A great delivery and a great run which deserved a better outcome. A big chance for Villa!

50’ – HUGE SAVE! The ball falls to Rogers in the box and he looks sure to stick it away, but Pickford denies him from close range. The rebound comes to Ramsey, but his shot is blocked by Garner. Villa come mightily close to an equaliser!

53’ – WHAT IS CALVERT-LEWIN DOING?! Everton produce the silkiest move of the game and all of a sudden Calvert-Lewin is slipped through on goal, but he slows his run as he approaches Martinez – as if he’s going to try and take the ball around him – before Konsa races back to poke the ball behind for a corner. Calvert-Lewin had all the time in the world and Everton should be 3-1 up!

58’ – GOAL!!! – ASTON VILLA 2-2 EVERTON (WATKINS): The ball falls to Watkins in the box, who makes no mistake as he pokes the ball past Pickford for his second of the game! Villa are level!

63’ – WATKINS GOES CLOSE TO A THIRD! Rogers squares the ball to Watkins who is busting a gut to get in the box, but Rogers’ pass is ever so slightly overhit and it runs out of play! The goal was there and Villa have wasted a golden chance chance to go ahead.

76’ – GOAL!!! ASTON VILLA 3-2 EVERTON (DURAN): What a finish from Duran! The roof has come off Villa Park! The substitute picks the ball up 30 yards from goal, takes one touch to get the ball out of his feet and sends an absolute rocket past Pickford and into the top left corner. An unbelieveble strike and an early contender for goal of the season!

78’ – OFF THE BAR! Almost an instant response from Everton, as Calvert-Lewin breaks into the box but sees his shot crash off the underside of the bar. What a game this is!

• Seven of Jhon Duran’s eight Premier League goals have come as a substitute, with all three of his goals in the competition this season being winning goals from the bench. Indeed, no player has scored more winners as a substitute in a single Premier League campaign. (Opta)
• Everton have become just the second side in Premier League history to lose back-to-back games having led by 2+ goals in both after Bournemouth in October/November 2022. (Opta)