There were five minutes to go at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday when Ollie Watkins, one of English football’s stand-out players this season, leapt high to meet a Boubacar Kamara flick-on from a corner and directed his header into the net.
The goal earned a 2-1 victory that lifted his Aston Villa team, briefly, to second place in the Premier League and the momentum of his jump carried Watkins towards the goal. Surrounded by celebrating teammates, he stood there for a few moments, roaring in delight, his hands on his hips in a defiant, triumphant stance.