Aston Villa manager Unai Emery directed his fury at the match officials after his side's Premier League title aspirations suffered a setback in a frustrating 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The result means Villa missed a crucial opportunity to keep pace with the league leaders.
Emery's Touchline Frustration Boils Over
The Spanish coach cut an animated figure throughout a match of few clear chances, and his frustration reached boiling point at the final whistle. Emery made a direct beeline for referee Andy Madley and his assistants to voice his displeasure before storming down the tunnel. Villa felt aggrieved not to be awarded a first-half penalty when Matty Cash's shot struck the arm of Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell, with Madley waving away the appeals.
Villa's night was further complicated by the loss of first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to injury at half-time, forcing substitute Marco Bizot into action. Despite these setbacks, Villa dominated the latter stages, bombarding the Palace goal in the final ten minutes. Their best chance fell to defender Victor Lindelöf, whose powerful header from a set-piece cannoned back off the post. Morgan Rogers then blazed over from inside the area in the dying moments.
Glasner's Unbeaten Run Against Emery Continues
For Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, the point extends a remarkable personal record. The Austrian manager is now unbeaten in seven matches against teams managed by Unai Emery. This result will be a welcome boost for Glasner, who has been fielding questions about his future amid links to the Manchester United job, while also coping with a severely depleted squad.
Palace, missing key players including Daniel Muñoz and Nathaniel Clyne, were forced to field youngster Justin Devenny at right wing-back. They created chances of their own, with Jean-Philippe Mateta just failing to connect with a Brennan Johnson cross late on. Dean Henderson in the Palace goal was also called into action, making a smart save with his legs to deny a deflected effort.
What the Stalemate Means for Both Sides
The shared points leave Villa ruing a missed opportunity to apply pressure at the top of the table. For a side enjoying their best season in years and considered potential rivals to Arsenal and Manchester City, dropping points against a depleted Palace side will feel like a defeat. Emery had insisted pre-match that his poor record against Glasner's teams was not a motivation, but his post-match actions told a different story.
For Palace, the clean sheet and hard-earned point provides a platform to build upon as they await squad reinforcements. The club is understood to be progressing with a deal for Genk's Zakaria El Ouahdi. The match was watched by England manager Thomas Tuchel, who would have seen energetic performances from the likes of Palace's Adam Wharton and Villa's Morgan Rogers, but ultimately witnessed a game lacking in cutting edge.
