John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings after Unai Emery's side defeat Man City on the final weekend of the Premier League season
Ollie Watkins scored twice for Aston Villa at Man City
Ollie Watkins scored twice for Aston Villa at Man City
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Europa League winners Aston Villa ended their Premier League season in fourth place after coming from behind to claim their first league win at Manchester City in over 19 years.
Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring for City in the first half, before a double from Ollie Watkins turned the game on its head to spoil Pep Guardiola’s final match in charge of City.
Unai Emery’s side had already achieved their league objective last week, securing Champions League qualification with a win over Liverpool, before being crowned Europa League champions on Wednesday night.
Eight changes were made to the team that beat SC Freiburg 3–0 in Istanbul, with only Victor Lindelof, Emi Buendia, and Watkins keeping their places. Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Harvey Elliott, Jadon Sancho, Morgan Rogers, Alysson, and Tammy Abraham were all absent from the squad.
Before the match, Emery presented Guardiola with a small gift, appearing to be a replica of the lion statue located in the North Grounds at Villa Park.
City started the brighter of the two teams, with Nico Gonzalez hitting the side netting after being slipped in by Savinho. Moments later, Marco Bizot - standing in for the injured Martinez - denied Bernardo Silva in what was his final game for City.
A VAR check cleared Tyrone Mings of a high boot in the box in the 20th minute, but City took the lead soon after as Semenyo beat Bizot when Andres Garcia failed to deal with a corner at the near post.
Tijjani Reijnders had a chance to double City’s lead late in the first half after winning possession from Phil Foden, but Bizot was equal to his effort.
Villa emerged for the second half looking like a different side and equalised just three minutes after the restart through Watkins, who reacted quickest when City failed to deal with Leon Bailey’s corner.
Bailey then had a golden opportunity to put Villa ahead but, after beating Ruben Dias, he fired wide.
Villa maintained the pressure, and Watkins soon gave them the lead. Initially flagged offside, VAR awarded the goal, marking his 16th league strike of the campaign. He ran onto Ross Barkley’s through ball, kept his composure, and finished confidently past James Trafford.
Trafford was then left helpless as Bailey drove into the box and struck the base of the post, as Villa came within inches of wrapping their win up with 15 minutes still to play.
Phil Foden thought he had scored a late equaliser for City, but VAR ruled that he strayed into an offside position before beating Bizot.
After beating City, Villa have now finished in fourth place in two of the last three seasons under Emery.
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa scores his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa scores his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium
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Player ratings
Marco Bizot
Bizot made a strong save to deny Reijnders late in the first half. The Dutch 'keeper has proven to be more than an adequate back-up to Martinez. 8
Andres Garcia
Garcia made his first league start of the campaign. He looked rusty, and although that was no surprise, his poor clearance led to City's first goal. Came off at half-time. 5
Victor Lindelof
Lindelof played in his most familiar role of centre-back today and excelled again. Signing of the summer. 8
Tyrone Mings
Like the rest of his teammates, Mings improved in the second half. Captained Villa to a first league win at Man City since 2007. 8
Ian Maatsen
Maatsen was eager to get forward and support attacks in the first half, but Villa had little possession to put City on the back foot. Offered energy in the final third on the overlap. 8
Lamare Bogarde
Bogarde moved into midfield for the visit to Man City, with Lindelof dropping into defence. Impressed as the game went on. 7
Douglas Luiz
It is expected that this was Luiz's final match for Villa after returning to the club on loan in January, so he will have enjoyed the 75 minutes he played today. 7
Leon Bailey
Bailey also likely made his final appearance for Villa this afternoon. In what was only his third league start of the season, the winger should have done more to help his teammates in transition at the end of the first half. He also squandered a chance shortly after Watkins' equaliser but was unlucky when he struck the post in the 76th minute. A better final ball was required, but he still influenced the game well. 7
Ross Barkley
Barkley operated in the number 10 role today. Tried to knit play together in transition, and grabbed an assist for Watkins' second. 8
Emi Buendia
Buendia found some dangerous pockets to influence the game in the final third. Nearly latched onto Watkins' pull-back in the 80th minute, which would have given him a great chance to score. 7
Ollie Watkins
Watkins held the ball up well but had very little service in the first half. That changed after the break, as he scored his 15th and 16th league goals of the campaign. He is in serious form heading into the World Cup with England. 9
SUBS
Matty Cash (for Garcia, 46'): The Poland international provided more experience and security to Villa's defence. 8
Youri Tielemans (for Luiz, 75'): N/A
Amadou Onana (for Bogarde, 75'): N/A
Pau Torres (for Lindelof, 75'): N/A
John McGinn (for Barkley, 86'): N/A
Subs not used: Wright, Digne, Hemmings, Burrowes.
GOALS
Man City: Semenyo (23')
Aston Villa: Watkins (47', 61')