OLLIE WATKINS was left “fuming” over his Champions League axe.
The striker scored as Aston Villa sunk top-five rivals Newcastle — four days after being benched for their defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.
On boss Unai Emery’s snub, Watkins said: “I was fuming I wasn’t playing after I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games.
“I let him know that. He’s the manager and I respect his decision.
“But I’m not one of those players happy to sit on the bench.
“Rather than let it hinder you, you have to use that anger and let it spur you on to prove the manager different.
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“I found myself out of the team for a few games so today I was raring to go and wasn’t going to let that opportunity slip.
“The manager is going to have a headache as I’m banging on the door asking why I’m not playing.”
Watkins netted after just 33 seconds and set up Villa’s crucial second goal in the rout.
Emery’s men sit sixth in the table, level on points with Nottingham Forest in fifth and two points off third-placed Toon.
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This win followed their painful exit to PSG and Emery praised Watkins’ inspiring performance.
Spanish gaffer Emery said: “To be angry is fantastic. To play like he did today is fantastic.
“Last week he helped us out, too. On Tuesday, he played 20 minutes.
“His commitment is always high to get to his best and this is what we want and need.
“This morning I was speaking with some players about how they feel. It is a real key moment to find our best.”
On their quarter-final exit to PSG, Emery added: “We have to feel angry when we are not winning.
“Of course we enjoyed the Champions League — we have to be proud of our effort but we lost.
“I’m very proud of how the players responded.”
Jason Tindall, in interim charge at Toon while Eddie Howe recovers from pneumonia, admitted his team were well beaten.
After a five-game Prem winning streak, he said: “It was a difficult evening.
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“First half I thought we did well off the back of the early setback.
“Maybe it was one step too far and three games in six days was too much physically for the players.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
