VILLA PARK DRAMA: TAMMY ABRAHAM RESCUES LATE POINT FOR VILLA AGAINST STRUGGLING LEEDS UNITED
Football news: Abraham rescues Villa. Get the full report on the 1-1 draw, Martinez's error, and the race for the top four.
The striker poked the ball in off his knee from close range, grabbing a point for the home side. Honestly, it didn’t do much for their title hopes, but it could end up being a huge moment in their fight to stay in the top four.
Earlier, Anton Stach had whipped in a free-kick in the first half that looked like it might set up a rare away win for the visitors – just their second of the season, in fact.
But then Abraham popped up, nudged Konsa’s header over the line, and finally got his first Premier League goal since Boxing Day 2020. That snatched the win away from the visitors.
Let’s break it down.
Leeds keeper Karl Darlow pulled off key stops from Amadou Onana and Emi Buendia early on, keeping Leeds in front.
Villa, though, had Emi Martinez to thank for keeping them in the game. He stopped Lukas Nmecha from sealing it for the visitors just before Abraham scored.
Martinez probably wanted the ground to swallow him up after Stach’s opener. The midfielder went for a goal from a free kick when everyone expected a cross, and Martinez was caught out.
Unai Emery’s team pushed and pushed, but with just one win in their last five home games across all competitions, it’s starting to look like a real problem.
Still, with Chelsea drawing at home to Burnley, Villa haven’t lost any ground in the race for a Champions League spot.
Yes, a win would’ve put them five points behind Arsenal again, but now the teams chasing them feel like the real threat.
Villa, still sitting third, didn’t exactly come flying out of the gates and got a couple of early scares. Dominic Calvert-Lewin should’ve been through on goal, but his heavy touch let Konsa catch up and make the tackle.
Then Jayden Bogle floated a pass into the box. This time, Calvert-Lewin’s touch was perfect, and he nearly scored, but Martinez blocked the shot with his legs.
Villa barely threatened. Their one real chance came when Darlow rushed out for a long ball he had no business going for. Buendia tried a quick lob into the empty net from the wing, but it missed by a mile.
Leeds looked comfortable and finally went ahead just after the half-hour. Ollie Watkins gave away a free kick 25 yards out on the left. Everyone expected Stach to cross, but he blasted it at the goal instead, catching Martinez off-guard at his near post.
Great strike, but considering Stach has already scored a couple of similar free kicks this season, you have to wonder if Villa had done their homework.
Villa only started to look dangerous right before halftime, and honestly, they should’ve gone in level. Leon Bailey and Watkins both wasted good chances, and then the ball dropped perfectly for Onana at the far post. Darlow made himself big, blocked the shot, and the rebound just slipped away from Watkins.
Buendia went just wide at the start of the second half, but Villa’s attack was still all over the place. Watkins tried his luck from a distance, but the ball sailed well wide.
Finally, around the hour mark, Villa woke up and started to press. Stach made a crucial block to stop Mings from scoring, then Darlow tipped Buendia’s curling shot into the post. Villa Park thought Watkins had equalised, but the flag went up for offside.
The crowd erupted when Emery called Abraham over to come on.
But before Abraham could even get on the pitch, Villa nearly got buried. Martinez denied Leeds sub Nmecha with a point-blank save, then kept out a low shot from Calvert-Lewin as Leeds tried to put the game to bed.
Those saves made all the difference because, in the 88th minute, Abraham finally pulled Villa level. Konsa met Sancho’s corner, and Abraham turned it into the top corner with his knee.
WHY WOLVES’ RELEGATION MAKES JOãO GOMES THE PREMIER LEAGUE’S TOP SUMMER TARGET
With Wolves relegated, midfielder João Gomes is set to leave. We explore Crystal Palace's interest and the race for the Brazilian star.
Crystal Palace are already mapping out their plans for the summer transfer window, and Wolves’ relegation has created a clear opening in midfield.
With Wolverhampton dropping to the Championship, it looks like several key players might be on their way out. Among them, João Gomes is quickly becoming a realistic target for Premier League clubs aiming to bolster their midfield.
According to Brazilian journalist Bruno Andrade on ESPN Brazil, Wolves have essentially put a number of players up for sale. This decision is influenced by both tactical shifts and financial considerations.
The club anticipates that playing in the Championship will require a different style of midfielder and is also mindful of the potential drop in market value if they hold onto high-value players like João Gomes.
Despite Wolves’ struggles as a team this season, João Gomes has consistently performed well on an individual level, which is central to Wolves’ plan.
Their strategy seems to be selling while his value remains relatively strong, and Crystal Palace appears eager to make a move. Wolves want to avoid a scenario where a season in the Championship would diminish both his exposure and transfer worth.
Data from FBref and WhoScored shows the Brazilian midfielder has been one of Wolves’ most active players, averaging over two tackles per 90 minutes and regularly ranking high in ball recoveries.
Andrade notes that internally, Wolves expect João Gomes to depart once the European season wraps up.
Crystal Palace isn’t the only club showing interest. Atlético Madrid has also been scouting midfield reinforcements for some time.
It’s not clear if formal talks have started yet, but the interest from both sides is genuine and ongoing.
Palace is in the process of building a more dynamic and aggressive midfield setup, where João Gomes’ style of pressing, engaging in duels, and quick transitions would fit well.
That said, competition will be stiff. Atlético’s ongoing search for balance in midfield suggests they won’t step back easily.
We’ve also heard that Napoli is working toward a possible deal for him.
Looking ahead, João Gomes is expected to stay in Europe for now. A move back to Brazil is considered unlikely despite interest and financial power from clubs like Flamengo, Palmeiras, and Cruzeiro.
For Crystal Palace, this is definitely a situation to keep an eye on. Wolves seem open to selling, the player is attracting attention, and the timing coincides with a market opportunity triggered by relegation.
The key will be who makes the first formal offer. Palace has acted early but is certainly not the only one in the running.
HOW MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE’S ELECTRIC HAT-TRICK REVIVED HIS 2026 WORLD CUP SQUAD DREAMS
Morgan Gibbs-White scored a 15-minute hat-trick as Forest beat Burnley 4-1. We analyze his late bid for an England World Cup squad spot.
Morgan Gibbs-White has been urged to keep putting England manager Thomas Tuchel in a tricky spot with his performances at Nottingham Forest.
His hat-trick on Sunday was nothing short of impressive. Not only did it help the Reds secure a solid 4-1 win over Burnley, but it also raised his total to 15 goals across all competitions this season. That tally put him level with the top English scorers in the Premier League before Danny Welbeck briefly edged ahead by scoring for Brighton against Chelsea.
Despite this, Gibbs-White didn’t make the cut for England’s recent squad for the March matches. With the World Cup on the horizon, he faces a challenging battle to get selected. Yet, pundit Ally McCoist believes there’s still time for Forest’s No. 10 to make a strong case for inclusion.
McCoist praised his hat trick on talkSPORT, highlighting the quality, especially of the second and third goals, the volley and the header. He also suggested that the last two England games weren’t great opportunities for players outside the squad to prove themselves, and some who did get in might have actually hurt their chances for the final tournament.
As for Gibbs-White’s chances, McCoist didn’t think it was too late but admitted that, realistically, he might miss out on the World Cup squad. Still, the message for him is clear: keep scoring and keep performing. That’s the way to make Tuchel reconsider.
Jamie Carragher shares a similar perspective. He’s a fan of Gibbs-White and appreciates his energy, pace, and ability to operate between the lines. However, Carragher doubts anyone outside the current 35-man squad will make it to the final team, which dims Gibbs-White’s prospects for now.
Looking back at the game, Forest were down at half-time against Burnley. It was Gibbs-White’s quickfire three goals in 15 minutes after the break that flipped the script and pushed Forest five points clear of the drop zone.
Coach Vitor Pereira adjusted tactics at half-time, asking Gibbs-White to take on a different role, which the player adapted to without issue. Pereira didn’t hesitate to say his key player deserves a spot in the England team. He pointed out not just Morgan’s technical and tactical abilities but also his character and leadership qualities, how he steps up when the team is struggling and refuses to shy away from responsibility.
In Pereira’s words, Gibbs-White’s attitude and hunger for the ball set him apart. That combination of skill and spirit makes him a vital asset for Forest, and maybe, just maybe, for England too.
