Following their demoralizing defeat to Newcastle United earlier in the week, it was crucial for the players to respond in the best possible manner against Sheffield United.
During the press conference for the Sheffield United vs Aston Villa game, many fans of the latter felt that Leon Bailey should have started against Newcastle. His cameo appearance from the bench proved to be a tactical mistake from Unai Emery.
However, in their match against Sheffield United, Aston Villa boss watched his team destroy their opponents 5-0, and the fans got their wish as Leon Bailey started and produced a masterclass.
Morgan Rogers, who signed for Aston Villa on transfer deadline day, made his debut from the bench at Bramall Lane and reacted to Bailey’s performance on Instagram.
Bailey joined the party with a trademark left-footed curling effort into the top corner after John McGinn and Ollie Watkins provided the away side with a rapid opening.
The 26-year-old has seven goals and six assists in 21 Premier League matches this season, making it imperative that he starts every game possible.
Bailey expressed his delight at his recent performance on Instagram and was praised by his teammates in the comments section. Matty Cash, who dropped to the bench for the Sheffield United game, added that Bailey is a “joke,” while Kortney Hause said, “There’s not many better, I tell ya.”
Despite not being a regular starter throughout the campaign, Bailey has proven to be a constant problem for opponents. He was arguably the best player in Aston Villa’s wins against Man City and Arsenal, despite only playing 45 minutes against the latter.
Bailey is a strong contender for Aston Villa’s Player of the Season, alongside Douglas Luiz, Ollie Watkins, and John McGinn. His progression is evident, considering he looked like a lost cause under Steven Gerrard.
