The ‘sensational’ Leon Bailey produced the best performance Aston Villa icon Andy Townsend has seen from him as the winger scored a winner during Wednesday’s 1-0 triumph over Manchester City.
Not so long ago, Aston Villa looked like a side far worse than the sum of their parts. A gifted, and expensively assembled, collection of players performing well below their peak.
Leon Bailey, a £25 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen, epitomised the Steven Gerrard era, to some extent. A player and a team of moments, the odd splash of brilliance undermined by inconsistency.
It felt fitting, then, that the man who kick-started the current reign with the opening goal in that 3-1 win over Manchester United a year ago was the driving force behind Unai Emery’s midweek magnum opus, leaving £77 million centre-back Josko Gvardiol for dead not once but twice before sending Villa Park into raptures.
And, as far as Townsend is concerned, this is the best Bailey has ever played in Villa colours.
Leon Bailey fires Aston Villa past Manchester City
“(This was) as good as I’ve seen him play,” Townsend, who played over 130 league games for Aston Villa in the 1990s, tells Amazon Prime.
“A sensational goal. He just puts his head down and sprints as hard and as fast as he can. He’s been like this all night, he’s been so positive. His performance has been outstanding. He really has been terrific.
“If anyone deserves (to score the winner), it’s him. The way he’s moved with the ball at full speed has been first class.”
Title challengers?
With eight goals and six assists, this is already Bailey’s most productive campaign in claret and blue. That devastating Man City display a reminder of the searing potential he showcased in the Bundesliga, when Bayer Leverkusen were alleged to be demanding an eye-watering £85 million.
Aston Villa, who dominated Pep Guardiola like few others have managed in the Spaniard’s remarkable managerial career, are now up to third, leapfrogging the champions and moving to within four points of leaders Arsenal.
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