NOUGHTY

Emery suffers first Prem goalless draw

- CHRIS MCKENNA

UNAI EMERY and Aston Villa may still harbour dreams of a Premier League title bid.

But this was an afternoon and weekend where it may have come into sharp Ex focus of just how hard it will be to keep pace with the established top two of Liverpool and Manchester City.

Villa missed out on a chance to go level on points with the leaders from the other side of Merseyside after this goalless draw at Goodison Park.

And it came 24 hours after Manchester City fought back and found a way to get a big three points against Newcastle to move into second ahead of Emery's side.

Maybe this will be an important point come May for Villa. Certainly it will help in their bid to be Newcastle rather than Leicester and break into the Champions League places if not win the title.