The Holy Trinity: Aston Villa conclusions from friendly win v St Louis City

Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins on the scoresheet again

Aston Villa won their first game of pre-season on Thursday, beating St Louis City of Major League Soccer 2-1 in Missouri in the black away kit that can finally be declared free of a curse.

Villa stuck with a 4-2-3-1 formation that largely held its structure in possession, shifting more often than not to a 4-4-2 without the ball in the first half by dropping Leon Bailey and Emi Buendía either side of the midfield two and leaving Morgan Rogers up with Donyell Malen.

Rogers and Ollie Watkins were Villa’s scorers for the second game in a row.

Unai Emery welcomed back more of his senior players and my word, what a pleasure it was to be watching John McGinn playing football again.

Villa’s captain doesn’t really know how to play friendlies. He does everything with energy and intent. He’s in the middle, nicking the ball off opponents, no half measures. He got booked after quarter of an hour. Tremendous.

On to a Holy Trinity of conclusions…