It was another difficult afternoon for Aston Villa forward Leon Bailey on Saturday, but he eventually came good to score our winner against Leicester City.
Through a combination of injury troubles and a lack of form, it’s been an underwhelming campaign for the 27-year-old thus far, particularly considering how big an impact he made for us last season.
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It had been hoped that he would build on the success of last year on an individual level, but it ultimately hasn’t worked out that way as Bailey scored only his first goal of the season in our 2-1 win over Leicester City this weekend.
With three assists to go with it in 23 appearances, he hasn’t performed at the level expected of him, and as he struggled through the opening hour on Saturday against the Foxes, the signs were looking bleak in terms of his ability to turn it around.
From misplaced passes to not getting the weight of his pass right and surrendering possession cheaply, to being unable to drive at defenders with confidence and belief to take them on and ultimately beat them to create openings.
Bailey looked like the confidence was being drained out of him, and as the groans around Villa Park grew louder, it seemed almost inevitable that Unai Emery would bring him off to save him from himself.
However, in a critical decision, the Villa boss opted to leave the Jamaican international on despite making changes in the latter stages as we searched for a winning goal, and it certainly paid off as Bailey tucked away the finish from Ian Maatsen’s assist to secure all three points for us.
“We were speaking about it in the meeting we had for the match about trying to find the goal, not really wishing to be anxious,” Emery said in his post-match press conference. “The first half, the only chance we had was something similar to his goal.
“Being calm, calm, choosing the best option in the final third and in the box. It is coming [first goal]. Today he scored and for him it is fantastic after a long time not scoring.
“The most important thing is for the team. Even if we are winning without him scoring, we are happy, but it makes it better because he can feel confident again.”
The confidence certainly returned for Bailey after scoring, as he was suddenly driving with positive intent and sharpness into the Leicester half and rattled the crossbar with a great effort which almost extended our advantage.
In turn, it’s hoped that goal is now the catalyst for him to get his season going in the second half of the campaign, as he himself noted in his post-match interview that he hopes that the turn of the year will bring better results for him and Villa as we look to put an important run of form together.
Bailey is fundamental to how we want to play as he gives us width to stretch the pitch and a dynamic, direct attacking threat on the right side to create opportunities, particularly when we face sides like Leicester who defend well in numbers and deeper, while packing the middle to cut off our passing lanes.
That then makes our wing play absolutely critical to pick holes in the defensive structure and pull the opposition out of their set shape, and if Bailey can rediscover some form, it will only lead to good things for him and the rest of the team in the coming weeks and months.
⚽️ Bailey
🅰️ MaatsenThe winner in front of the Holte End 🙌 pic.twitter.com/qSd69rNyTi
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 4, 2025
