Missed chances in front of goal against Nottingham Forest sent Aston Villa home to the other side of the Midlands with a solitary point on Sunday.
In the final stretch of the season, opportunities to capitalise feel more precious than ever, but Villa are still finding their attacking mojo with only a handful of games remaining.
This season has been a tale of many dry spells. Since the turn of the year, Villa have only scored more than one goal in three of their league games. Europe has been a slightly different story, but generally Unai Emery has been unable to unlock the best of his team in the final third.
With so much left to play for, scuppered goal attempts feel symbolic of even bigger opportunities on the line.
The club has been without a trophy since 1996 – a three-decade silverware drought that looms large over one of the oldest and most decorated clubs in the country. For that reason, a Europa League triumph feels almost essential to reinstate Villa back amongst the real winners at the top of the English and European game.
This squad has a point to prove and there has never been a better time to cement new names in the Aston Villa history books.
There are many players in this squad who have been on a journey from the Dean Smith era, while many others have never lifted a senior trophy themselves. The incentive is there.
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