Who was good and who was not as Aston Villa drew 0-0 away at Everton.
Aston Villa’s run without a goal continued with a stop-start 0-0 draw away at Everton in the Premier League. The Villans remain the only goalless team in England’s top seven tiers and, stretching back to the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in May, it’s now been over seven and a half hours of football since Unai Emery’s side last found the net in the Premier League.
Villa were improved defensively by Emiliano Martinez’s return to the XI but lacked a creative edge once more, hampered by ponderous passes in the final third. There were many instances when Ollie Watkins made some decent runs in the channels but the service simply wasn’t good enough as through ball attempts lacked direction and vigour.
Even during the odd sustained period of possession, it was the same story for Villa as they struggled to penetrate Everton’s sturdy defence. Villa’s shape subtly changed in the second half as Evann Guessand replaced Youri Tielemans, though it didn’t change the flow of the game, which was scrappy and never really got going.
If either team was to win, it would have been Everton as the hosts had the better of the chances on Villa’s first-ever visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Martinez made superb stops to deny Beto and Jack Grealish in the first half before acrobatically tipping Michael Keane’s header over the bar midway through the second. Keane then went agonisingly close to nodding in from a teasing Grealish cross in stoppage time.
In isolation, a point away at Everton isn’t a terrible result for Villa. But given the overarching frustration, flat morale and lack of attacking confidence, it will feel like another blow. Here’s how the player rated on Merseyside, as Villa remain 19th in the Premier League after four matches.
Villa goalkeeper and defence player ratings
Emiliano Martinez - 8/10
Back in the team following his transfer controversy, Martinez made some really important saves. The World Cup winner denied Beto and Grealish in the first quarter of an hour and then kept out Keane’s header acrobatically in the 72nd minute, a big moment. Martinez did have a wobbly moment, though, as he spilt Dewsbury-Hall’s cross, leading to a scramble in the area.
Matty Cash - 5/10
The Poland international had a mixed game against Grealish as he jockeyed him well at times but was left for dead at others. Cash gave away several sloppy fouls on the former Villan, including one which got him in the book. Cash wasn’t much of a threat going forward, either.
Ezri Konsa - 7/10
Konsa was equal to much of what Grealish, Garner and Ndiaye threw at him. As much as Villa struggled in the final third, Konsa was at least composed passing out from the back as he misplaced just three all game.
Tyrone Mings - 7/10
Mings picked himself up well after sustaining an early knock and had a decent game. There were times he was found well out of position but he made up for it with a plethora of clearances, many of which were from crosses towards the end.
Lucas Digne - 5/10
Digne really struggled to deal with Ndiaye, who gave him the run around on so many occasions. Digne would push on to try and stop the Everton winger but was often beaten for pace on the turn. Exactly that happened in the second half and Digne was booked for his troubles.
Villa midfield player ratings
Lamare Bogarde (off 83’) - 6/10
Thrown in for a rare start, presumably to offer Cash better protection against Grealish, Bogarde had a shaky first half but improved as the game went on. The Dutchman never looked fully comfortable in possession when Everton pressed high. He did make several important defensive interventions, though, including a well-timed challenge to stop Beto from getting a shot off.
Youri Tielemans (off 46’) - 7/10
Tielemans was Villa’s most involved player in a tentative first half as he completed more passes than anyone else on the field. The Belgian was taken off at the break with an injury, however. He walked gingerly past the press after the game.
John McGinn - 6/10
It was another scrappy game for McGinn, who worked hard to win second balls but wasn’t incisive enough with his passing.
Emiliano Buendia (off 71’) - 6/10
Buendia had quite the... well, Buendia game. The Argentine was energetic and his intentions were right, but much of what he tried didn’t pay off. He was unlucky not to score at the start of the second half, though, as his deflected shot looped just wide. His last involvement saw him booked as he went in recklessly on Ndiaye.
Villa attack player ratings
Morgan Rogers - 5/10
Rogers wasn’t able to march on after his heroics for England. In fact, he was miles off it. Back in his preferred number 10 role, Rogers did well at times to carry the ball on the transition but his final passes were woeful.
Ollie Watkins - 6/10
The England international’s run without a goal continues. Although Watkins made a few good runs, he didn’t have a single chance to score. The lack of sercice
Evann Guessand (on 46’) - 6/10
The new signing came on unexpectedly at half time as Tielemans was withdrawn. Guessand had quite the battle with Grealish down the flank as both fouled one another. He wasn’t able to help Villa create much more than they did in the first half, though.
Elliott’s debut won’t exactly live long in the memory. Booed by the Everton fans every time he received the ball, the Liverpool loanee added little more than fresh legs.
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