The Sunday Mail
MARVELOUS NAKAMBA bounced back into the starting line-up for Aston Villa, but the Zimbabwean international could not inspire the Clarets and Blue who remained in the relegation zone after suffering a 0-1 loss against Wolves in an English Premiership tie at Villa Park yesterday.
Nakamba was recalled into the first XI for the first time since the Premier League resumed on June 17 after a coronavirus-induced lockdown, but the story line did not change for the Warriors man and Villa who remained win-less in nine matches and second from bottom.
The Warriors star midfielder played 80 minutes before he was substituted for Egyptian Anwar El Ghazi as Villa coach Dean Smith poured more men upfront in search of an equaliser to salvage at least a point at home.
Villa have 27 points in 32 matches and will face Liverpool (away), Manchester United (home), Crystal Palace (home), Everton (away), Arsenal (home) and West Ham (away) in their last six games of the season.
Wolves continued their charge for a Premier League top-four finish, thanks to a Leander Dendoncker’s second-half strike which piled more misery on Villa.
The visitors, surprisingly, only managed two efforts on goal but they made it count with their second when the Belgium midfielder made a foray forward before striking low past Orjan Nyland.
It is now three wins out of three following the restart and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are fifth on 52 points with Chelsea, above them on 54, in their sights. — Sports Reporter-BBC Sport.
As for Dean Smith’s men, who remain 19th with 27 points, a draw could have lifted them out of the bottom three, which was as much as they looked like achieving at Villa Park.
Jack Grealish’s first-half low driven effort was their only shot on target. Villa will play champions Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday before hosting Manchester United on July 9. Smith’s Villa are winless in their last nine league matches and it all looks gloomy for now for Nakamba in his debut Premier League season. — Sports Reporter/BBC Sport
