Dean Smith heaped praise on Ollie Watkins after 10-man Aston Villa earned a convincing victory over Crystal Palace. Villa only led through Bertrand Traore’s fifth-minute goal when Tyrone Mings was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession shortly before half-time.
But the hosts were much the better side after the break as well and wrapped up a 3-0 win with goals from Kortney Hause and Anwar El Ghazi.
Watkins was a thorn in Palace’s side throughout and was involved in all three goals as well as hitting a post late on. Boss Smith said of the big-money signing from Brentford: “I wanted the Christmas present of a good performance and I certainly got that and a good result as well. “Our counter-attacking threat was there
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