Roy Keane praised Ashley Young for his ‘brilliant’ goal during Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw against strugglers Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Monday Night.
The former Villa coach wasn’t too happy with Tyrone Mings, as he slammed his ‘lazy’ defending which helped Forest open the scoring through Emmanuel Dennis, as he told Sky Sports Premier League.
Following a ball down the channel, Mings followed the run of Dennis, who tried cutting inside and was subsequently fouled by the Villa defender.
From that free-kick, Steven Gerrard’s side conceded to the opposition’s first effort on goal, with Mings once again being questioned about his defending when Dennis headed past Emiliano Martinez.
But it didn’t take Villa too long to equalise, with 37-year-old Young firing in his goal from about 30 yards out to score his first goal in Claret & Blue colours since returning last summer, and his first since 2011.
Nonetheless, Keane had a say on the two important events at the City Ground yesterday and he refused to criticise Forest keeper, Dean Henderson, for the role he played in Young’s long-range strike.
“Yes, 100% (it’s an unnecessary free-kick to give away),” said Keane. “I think it’s just lazy defending. Mings getting dragged up by Dennis. There is no danger. You are talking about an experienced player. Stay low. Make it hard.
“It’s as if he’s too lazy to move his feet. Laziness. Not good defending. There was no need for it.
On Dennis’s goal from free-kick: “Look at Villa, on their heels, not on their toes. Again Mings, maybe Dennis just walks into the space. There’s no getting hold of him. No aggression. Far too easy.
On Ashley Young’s goal: “That’s the benefit of a right-footed left-back. It’s difficult that he can’t cross with his left as we saw earlier in the game.
“But when it comes out to him for a right-footed player. I have been critical of goalkeepers (before). But I think we are being harsh. I think that’s a brilliant strike from Young.
“It’s a very good goal, especially when you see it from behind the goal – I think you can’t do much with that. It’s a brilliant strike.”
TIME RUNNING OUT FOR GERRARD
Another game and another morale-sapping result and performance from Villa, who are hovering above the Premier League’s relegation zone after nine games.
Whilst Villa dominated possession against Forest, they failed to show any cutting edge or threat to actually secure all three points.
This wasn’t a case of Dean Henderson having an outstanding game in between Forest’s goal, but Villa looking passive, slow and way too safe when trying to attack the opposition’s goal.
All of this falls on Gerrard’s head and, at this rate, he’s probably not going to see the end of the month because the pressure is starting to ramp up on the former Rangers boss.
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