Dion Dublin has branded Aston Villa’s high defensive line as "absolutely ridiculous" following their 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
High-flying Villa saw their six-game unbeaten run come to an end at the City Ground on Sunday. Ola Aina and Orel Mangala netted either side of half-time for Forest to condemn Villa to their first Premier League defeat since September 3.
Unai Emery’s team spurned the chance to go fourth in the table after Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday evening. And ex-Villa striker Dublin was critical of Emery’s defensive set-up during his analysis on Match of the Day 2.
“Villa’s high line, for me, is absolutely ridiculous,” said Dublin. “They have been brilliant of late, let’s get it right - one of the form teams and Unai Emery has done great - however, when you play a high line one yard away from the halfway line, you’re going to be in trouble more often than not.
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“They got away with it on two or three occasions. You are taught as a very young footballer to stay with your man if there’s no pressure. Forest just didn’t get it right. If they had a third man running, or they got that ball right and the pass was right, they would have been in.
“What you don’t want to be doing as a defender is be running towards your goal all the time, you lose your bearings and your positional play.”
World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez didn’t cover himself in glory for Forest’s second goal. He misjudged Mangala’s long range strike and palmed the ball into the goal behind him.
On Martinez, Dublin added: “I don’t know what the keeper is doing. He is a world class keeper and I don’t know what he’s doing.”
Do you agree with Dublin's assessment? Have your say in the comments section below...
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