Gnonto back in the team and effective

Wilfried Gnonto was benched for games against Chelsea and Brighton but after returning to the starting line-up he was a crucial factor for Leeds in their 4-2 win over Wolves. It was Gnonto who set up the opening goal for Jack Harrison.

His cross made Harrison’s task fairly easy and it was the third time the winger had troubled Wolves, although the goal didn’t come until the sixth minute of the game. The Italy international being allowed to isolate his marker is a real weapon for Leeds.

This freedom wasn’t always there for Gnonto. It had become so obvious that the team depended on him to create that he received a lot of attention. Perhaps those two games helped the team because Wolves weren’t ready to deal with him.
Adam Bate

Will returning Isak fire Newcastle into the Champions League?

One wonders how much higher up the table Newcastle United would be if Alexander Isak had been fit all season?

The striker of Sweden bought by Real Sociedad last summer for £63m scored on his Liverpool debut in August only to then sustain a serious thigh tear while settling at St James’ Park.

That injury sidelined Isak for the remainder of 2022, with the forward missing 16 games in total before finally returning in January.

However, since returning to full fitness, the 23-year-old has shown the kind of form we saw from him before his sacking and, following Friday night’s double at the City Ground, he has scored four goals in his last two games at the club.

His manager Eddie Howe now appears to have decided to go for the run-in with Isak ahead of veteran frontman Callum Wilson, and you can see why given his impressive scoring record for the Magpies.

Isak has scored six Premier League goals in just 10 games for the club this season, at an impressive rate of one goal every 115 minutes.
Richard Morgan

Leicester show their quality in second-half turnaround

The writing appeared to be on the wall for visitors to west London. Leicester’s first-half performance had revealed their recent problems: a lack of cutting edge in attack and insecurity at the back.

But a wonderful team goal to equalize at the beginning of the second half reminded of the quality in this team. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was brilliant in midfield and deterred challenges, James Maddison did what he does best in the pocket by leading a through ball into the box and Harvey Barnes was dynamic and then deadly with his finish.

Brendan Rodgers threw both arms up in the sky with joy and relief. It was the kind of exercise he enjoys.

The goal restored his team’s confidence and although there was no winner, which would have significantly boosted their standing in the relegation battle, they denied Brentford a shot on target in the second half to secure the result. This will be seen as a positive move for a side that’s certainly too good to fail.
Peter Smith

Brentford raised expectations

Brentford are unbeaten in ten consecutive home games in the Premier League. In the race for Europe they are level on points with seventh-placed Brighton. Still, feeling full-time in their draw with Leicester was one of frustration. It’s a sign of how Thomas Frank has raised the standards for this side.

Brentford haven’t won a game, they’ve had more possession this season and they couldn’t convert their extra time on the ball into a win on Saturday either. Frank later admitted his forwards didn’t shoot, and perhaps that leads to questions about the creativity behind them.

But in the first half they wreaked havoc in the Leicester box with their direct play and perhaps the second-half abandonment is partly due to midweek efforts.

Frank looked tired in his post-match press conference and perhaps the international break comes at a good time for Brentford as it offers a chance to refresh their minds and bodies for their final 11 games where they hope to at least consolidate their strength high league place.

“Yes and no because I know what this group of players can do,” Frank said when asked if his side exceeded expectations. He and his team are ambitious but, overall, Brentford’s superb season deserves credit.
Peter Smith

Emery’s vision comes to life in Villa

“The last two games against Crystal Palace and today were the best two games we’ve played here in the style I want to create.”

It may have taken some time but Unai Emery is finally seeing his vision come to life at Aston Villa. His side are now unbeaten in four Premier League games and level on points with Chelsea.

It was also an impressive performance from Aston Villa. They look devastating up front and play a wonderful one-touch pass with speed and accuracy.

They didn’t always have it to their liking either, but they look solid at the back. Blocks and clearances from Matty Cash and Tyrone Mings come to mind, while Emi Martinez looked unbeatable in goal at times.

But perhaps one player who has benefited most from Emery’s arrival is Douglas Luiz. He scored the first goal and the later two were triggered by his set piece delivery.

Luiz has been directly involved in six goals (2 goals, 4 assists) in 14 Premier League games under the Spaniard this season, having provided one goal and one assist in his 12 games this season under Steven Gerrard and Aaron Danks .

Emery described Aston Villa’s victory as a confirmation of his side’s status in the Premier League and now they may very well start to look up. A crack in Europe may be just six points away – and don’t forget, Emery has won the Europa League three times as a manager.

But even if European football is a bit too far away this season, there’s no reason why Aston Villa fans can’t dream of it in the near future.
Charlotte March

Bournemouth’s soft belly exposed

Confidence in the Bournemouth squad would have been high after impressive performances against Arsenal and Liverpool. They still have a chance of surviving relegation – but losing at Aston Villa will be a bruise.

They were nullified by a slow start to the game – Douglas Luiz scored within seven minutes – and a lack of focus in the last fifteen minutes as Jacob Ramsey and Emi Buendia finished things off for Villa.

But for the incidents, Bournemouth often paired with an Aston Villa side that looked up rather than down. The home defense needed to be sharp and intercept some crucial interceptions, while Emi Martinez’s superb save from a Philip Billing free-kick was a timely reminder of his World Cup-winning tradition.

Aston Villa just looked like a high quality, smarter team and they punished Bournemouth for their mistakes. Especially the defense of the Cherries from standard situations left a lot to be desired at times.

For example, while the big results and wins are crucial – as well as core memories for fans – it’s the weekly drudgery of traveling to teams like Aston Villa or Brentford that can make or break a season. You must appear in each of them to have a chance of survival.

While Bournemouth’s soft belly was certainly revealed at Villa Park, they showed they have the quality to stay on top. You must now use these positive qualities sensibly.
Charlotte March

Wolves need to focus on their own mistakes

Julen Lopetegui pointed to the decision not to award Wolves a penalty for a foul by Junio ​​Firpo on Nelson Semedo that even left right-back injured and was equally stunned that the referee didn’t allow Leeds’ fourth goal despite being asked the monitor had lifted.

The shirt pull on Adama Traore was clear and with that frustration coming so soon after a penalty was not awarded for Nick Pope’s foul on Raul Jimenez at Newcastle, Lopetegui probably has a fair claim when he says the margins are against his side go .

However, it’s their own mistakes rather than those of the officials that should be of greater concern to the Spaniard. Wolves had enough chances against Leeds to get something out of that game, despite conceding four goals at the other end, but still lack pluck.

They scored two goals, a 41-yard lob and a deflected shot, but it was the misses that will linger – Raul Jimenez not finding the net from the six-yard box, Pablo Sarabia passing with an open goal . It’s been taking too long now to expect it to turn around.

That waste means Wolves need to be solid defensively to win games – most of their wins this season have been 1-0. But organization at the back was lacking following Craig Dawson’s substitution. Bad in both boxes. It’s a combination that risks relegation.
Adam Bate