Exclusive: Pundit defends Aston Villa duo Watkins and Ings after Chelsea defeat | OneFootball

Former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer has told Football FanCast that Aston Villa’s 3-0 loss to Chelsea is not the game to analyse Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings’ strike partnership.

Watkins and Ings started together up front for the first time since the latter’s £25m arrival this summer.

Both players have shown their goalscoring proficiency over the last couple of seasons, with Watkins finding the back of the net on 14 occasions in the Premier League last term and Ings managing 22 the campaign prior.

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However, the English duo were ineffective together against Chelsea as Villa drew a blank, but given the strength of the opposition, Palmer is not reading too much into it.

“Listen, the two of them are two good players,” the ex-Leeds United and Southampton star said. “Watkins has got legs; he can run in behind. Ings can get in behind.

“You’d like to play two up front whenever you can, but it’s always difficult. You have to analyse the opposition.

“Against Chelsea, it’s going to be very hard. Chelsea are a very, very good side now. I think whoever finishes above Chelsea will win the league, so it’s difficult to analyse Villa’s performance.”

It is early days. As the season goes on, with their quality, you would expect Watkins and Ings to click and from a Villa perspective, hopefully fire the club into or closer to the European football spots.