Aston Villa returned to winning ways with a 2-1 home win against relegation battlers Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.
Unai Emery had several selection problems ahead of Leicester’s visit. While Morgan Rogers joined Jhon Duran after five yellow cards this season, Villa were without injured duo Diego Carlos and Pau Torres. Club captain John McGinn joined the centre-backs in the club’s treatment room after hobbling off in the first 20 minutes.
McGinn didn’t allow much in a dismal first half in which there were almost no chances to score. The two clubs scored a total of four shots, none of which put undue stress on either goalkeeper.
Leicester could be content with the inactivity. The Foxes took an incredible 74 shots in the first three games of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s tenure. The reigning second division champions have gotten tougher in recent weeks and were very unlucky with the defeat against Manchester City last weekend.
That damp thump of a Saturday afternoon was belatedly brought to life by Ross Barkley’s powerful opener in the 58th minute. The former England international received a header on the edge of the penalty area and fired a volley into the bottom corner.
Villa’s lead barely lasted five minutes before the visitors hit back on the counterattack. Jordan Ayew shot down the right wing and sent a low cross into the path of Jamie Vardy. The Leicester captain’s shot attempt was blocked by Emi Martinez, but Stephy Mavididi was there to convert the rebound.
James Justin has endured a ruinous period of individual form, even against the backdrop of Leicester’s collective woes, and the struggling full-back was at fault again on Saturday. Justin’s limp pass was devoured in the 76th minute by Ian Maatsen, who drove past his opposing defender before hitting Leon Bailey to finish from close range.
*Reviews provided by FotMob*
player | Evaluation |
|---|---|
GK: Emily Martinez | 6.9/10 |
RB: Matty Cash | 8.1/10 |
CB: Ezri Konsa | 7.2/10 |
CB: Tyrone Mings | 7.3/10 |
LB: Lucas Digne | 7.2/10 |
CM: Boubacar Kamara | 7.2/10 |
CM: Ross Barkley | 8.5/10 |
AM: Youri Tielemans | 7.0/10 |
RW: Leon Bailey | 7.8/10 |
ST: Ollie Watkins | 5.4/10 |
LW: John McGinn | 6.1/10 |
SUB: Jacob Ramsey (19′ for McGinn) | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Ian Maatsen (76′ for Digne) | 6.9/10 |
SUB: Emiliano Buendia (76th for Barkley) | 6.0/10 |
Substitutes not used: Robin Olsen (TW), Kosta Nedeljkovic, Lamare Bogarde, Sil Swinkels, Amadou Onana, Jamaldeen Jimoh.
*Reviews provided by FotMob*
player | Evaluation |
|---|---|
GK: Jakub Stolarczyk | 5.9/10 |
RB: James Justin | 5.1/10 |
CB: Conor Coady | 5.9/10 |
CB: Jannik Vestergaard | 6.7/10 |
LB: Luke Thomas | 6.7/10 |
CM: Harry Winks | 6.5/10 |
CM: Boubakary Soumare | 6.3/10 |
AM: Bilal El Khannous | 6.3/10 |
RW: Jordan Ayew | 6.2/10 |
ST: Jamie Vardy | 6.5/10 |
LW: Stephy Mavididi | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Wout Faes (63′ for Vestergaard) | 6.4/10 |
SUB: Caleb Okoli (83′ for Coady) | N/A |
SUB: Facundo Buonanotte (83′ for El Khannous | N/A |
SUB: Patson Daka (83′ for Ayew) | N/A |
SUB: Bobby De Cordova-Reid (90′ for Thomas) | N/A |
Substitutes not used: Daniel Iversen (TW), Hamza Choudhury, Oliver Skipp, Will Alves