Unai Emery demands consistency from Aston Villa after victory over Fulham
Unai Emery stressed the importance of Aston Villa remaining consistent as the season goes on after the 3-1 win over Fulham. The result at Villa Park saw the midlands outfit make it six wins out of six at home in the Premier League this season and equal the post-war club record for successive top-flight home victories, matching the 13 in a row achieved in 1983. Boss Emery, whose fifth-placed side are a point outside the top four, said: “We are now (on league match) 12 – there are still 26 matches to play. “It’s a lot and of course to be consistent is the most important thing, when you are trying to build and to create a team and a structure and mentality. “It’s the reason of course we can maintain the position like we are now, but it’s going to be very difficult and a challenge. We are going to face each match trying to focus (on) it. “Now we are in the top five, it’s I think a moment to enjoy, to be happy – and to try to analyse, even now winning, how we can improve, how we can keep being consistent.” Marking a return to winning ways in the league after last Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Nottingham Forest, this result was a second home triumph in four days for Villa, with Emery’s men having defeated AZ Alkmaar 2-1 in the Europa Conference League on Thursday to leave them on the brink of qualifying from their group. They were two up at the break against Fulham following an Antonee Robinson own-goal and a 42nd-minute strike from skipper John McGinn, while Ollie Watkins subsequently added a third in the 64th minute for his 11th goal of the season in all competitions. Raul Jimenez, who had seen a shot tipped against a post by Emiliano Martinez early in the second half, pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 70th minute – the former Wolves man’s first Premier League goal since March 2022. Emery said: “At home, we are feeling very good here. We are connected with our supporters, trying to (have) full, positive energy, and… in each circumstance we are trying to adapt, improving the team, the players, our tactical work. I think it is going well. “Here, for example, I think the first half was a very good first half. We created chances, but overall we controlled the game, avoiding the transition. It was fantastic. “The second half was more hard. They scored one goal, had chances and were trying to work, thinking about the possibility to come back, and we avoided it.” Villa resume after the international break with away games against Tottenham and Bournemouth, either side of a Europa Conference League home match against Legia Warsaw, and then host Manchester City and Arsenal in the league. Emery added: “Of course I am happy and I can take my days off as well relaxing with the result we had, with the moment we are now in the table, and in the Conference (League) as well. “But I know full well each match is a new challenge, and I am going to take some days resting, but of course my mind is in Tottenham, and in Bournemouth, and in Legia Warsaw, and in Villa Park again with Manchester City and Arsenal.” Read More Jurgen Klopp hits out at lunchtime scheduling of Liverpool-Man City clash I don’t like English referees – Roberto De Zerbi unhappy after Brighton held We’ve just thrown it away – Steve Cooper frustrated as Forest lose at West Ham Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart lead Britain to Billie Jean King Cup win over Sweden Brighton gift draw to Sheffield United after own goal and red card Aston Villa equal club-record home winning run by sweeping aside Fulham
1970-01-01 08:00
MLB rumors: NY team resigns on Ohtani, Bellinger destinations, Soto update, Tim Anderson position change, more
The big markets were expected to be all-in on Shohei Ohtani. That doesn't seem to be the case, early in free agency.
1970-01-01 08:00
Edmonton Oilers fire coach Jay Woodcroft and name Kris Knoblauch the replacement
The Edmonton Oilers have fired coach Jay Woodcroft after a team that was supposed to be a Stanley Cup contender lost 10 of its first 13 games
1970-01-01 08:00
Boise State fires coach Andy Avalos 10 games into 3rd season of at least 4 losses, AP source says
Boise State has fired coach Andy Avalos, 10 games into his third season leading the Broncos and with a 22-14 overall record
1970-01-01 08:00
Father of Luis Diaz reveals details of kidnapping ordeal: ‘It was a lot of horseback riding’
The father of Liverpool star Luis Diaz said he went “almost 12 days without sleep” and endured long horseback treks through mountain passes as he revealed the details of his kidnapping ordeal for the first time. Luis Manuel Diaz, 58, was released by the guerrilla group Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) on Thursday, nearly two weeks after he was captured at gunpoint along with his wife near their hometown of Barrancas in northern Colombia. While Cilenis Marulanda was rescued by police within hours, Diaz Sr remained in the hands of his kidnappers and said he was told to remain calm. At a press conference in Barrancas, Diaz Sr said that although “the treatment was good, I didn’t feel very comfortable”. “It was a lot of horseback riding, really hard, a lot of mountains, a lot of rain, too many insects,” said an emotional and weary Diaz Sr, speaking alongside his family near the Colombia-Venezuela border. “I couldn’t sleep peacefully, it was very difficult, almost 12 days without sleep.” Despite the ordeal, Diaz Sr said he had no plans to move away from Barrancas and felt safe in Colombia. The father of the Liverpool forward said he did not understand why the ELN kidnapped him as he was not held to ransom. "My aspirations are to continue in my town because I have my entire family in my town," Diaz Sr said. "The government has given me impressively strong and great support. I trust and have faith that it will provide me security to be in Barrancas." Liverpool winger and Colombia international Diaz had made an emotional appeal for his father’s release after scoring a late equaliser for Liverpool in their 1-1 draw against Luton last weekend The 26-year-old marked the goal by revealing a T-shirt bearing a message in Spanish reading “Freedom for Dad’’ and then made a statement calling for his “prompt release”. Diaz Sr said he spoke to his son after he was safely released by the kidnappers on Thursday and Diaz told him he was “happy” to play in Liverpool’s Europa League match against Toulouse that afternoon. The Colombian police said it had arrested four suspects after investigating Diaz Sr’s kidnapping, while the head of the ELN has admitted it was a “mistake” to capture the Liverpool star’s father. Read More Jurgen Klopp reignites early kick-off row ahead of Man City vs Liverpool clash Mohamed Salah’s stunning Anfield record is making his brilliance appear normal Liverpool vs Brentford LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
1970-01-01 08:00
Peter Nygard: Fashion mogul guilty of sex assaults
The 82-year-old is still facing a trial in Montreal and extradition to the US.
1970-01-01 08:00
Lewandowski scores twice to rally Barcelona to 2-1 win over Alaves in Spanish league
Robert Lewandowski has scored twice to lead Barcelona to a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Alaves in the Spanish league
1970-01-01 08:00
Jonathan Taylor runs for early TD and Colts hold off Patriots 10-6 in Germany
Jonathan Taylor ran for a first-quarter touchdown and Mac Jones threw a crucial interception in the fourth quarter and the Indianapolis Colts held on for a 10-6 win over New England Patriots in Germany
1970-01-01 08:00
Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating
Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Sunday, two days after he publicly criticized officiating following his team’s loss to Utah
1970-01-01 08:00
Former Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard guilty of four counts of sexual assault -CBC News
(Reuters) -Former Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault by a Toronto jury
1970-01-01 08:00
Sean Payton takes a sacrilegious approach to motivating Broncos for Bills matchup
Desperate times call for desperate measures for the Denver Broncos?
1970-01-01 08:00
NFL Rumors: 3 teams who should be dialed-in on Kyler Murray for possible trade
Kyler Murray makes his long-awaited return on Sunday after 11 months of injury rehab. Now is the time to start scouting the Arizona Cardinals' QB for a trade.
1970-01-01 08:00
