Aston Villa player ratings after Premier League thumping of high-flying AFC Bournemouth
Demolition.
The best performance of the season by far yielded four goals and a hugely impressive win over a team that could have gone third.
Aston Villa breezed past AFC Bournemouth in terms of the 4-0 scoreline but the effort that went into achieving it was anything but easy. These three points were the result of hard work more than anything else.
Like Thursday, this was a game in which the referee was inexplicably lenient with Villa’s opposition when it came to issuing yellow cards. It’s nice when it doesn’t matter.
Here are the ratings:
Emiliano Martínez - 9
Stood up strong to keep out a close-range shot immediately after Bournemouth’s clash of heads inside the first few minutes. Safe handling when required in a lengthy spell of time added on before the break and during a period of sustained pressure after it.
A no-nonsense performance topped off by a wonderful save to tip over a deflected shot ten minutes into the second half, then an even better one to save Antoine Semenyo’s penalty.
Matty Cash - 7
Confident attempt to lob the goalkeeper in the ninth minute. Glorious free kick over the top that led to the goal that made it 1-0. Skinned Marcus Tavernier to win a free kick in first-half stoppage time. Solid.
Ezri Konsa - 7
Frustrated to be hunted down with the ball at times in the first half. Defensively sound as ever but rarely extended until he had to step up a gear after the break, and did. Central to Villa’s defending as a unit and also a beneficiary of it in doubling up against Evanilson. Defending in his own box had to be spot on.
Pau Torres - 6
Chose to head across to Ollie Watkins with only the goalkeeper to beat from John McGinn’s pass in behind. Should have gone himself and would have scored, but showed his value at the other end within seconds. A good performance but by no means spectacular.
Lucas Digne - 7
A very tough test against Semenyo and he battled away at it with a great degree of success. Played his part on the ball too, including a perfect delivery for Ross Barkley’s goal.
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Amadou Onana - 8
Big early tackle after ten minutes, the first of several useful defensive interventions facing his own goal. Caught on the ball in the middle of the first half but generally very effective in midfield. Made it 2-0 with a stunning low strike from 25 yards. He’s quite a player at his best.
Boubacar Kamara - 8
Forced the first save from the Bournemouth goalkeeper with a well struck low effort. Yellow carded for fouling Alex Scott on the edge of the box to clear up Onana’s mess. Lovely flick around the corner late in the first half with Villa in full flow. An absolute pest without the ball. Substituted with ten minutes left.
John McGinn - 8
Constantly active off the ball and in transition, looking to win the ball high or get in behind on the right with Bournemouth pressing. Superb play back to goal in the middle of the pitch with Villa buzzing after taking the lead as a typical McGinn performance started to take shape. Substituted with 20 minutes left.
Emi Buendía - 9
Tenacity incarnate and a pressing monster. Superb tracking back the length of the pitch early in the first half. Offered lots of quality on the ball, dropping into pockets to keep Villa on the move. Picked out with a Cash free kick over the top to win another on the edge of the D in the first half. He scored it quite beautifully to make it 1-0.
Unreal pass to find Rogers with the outside of his boot early in the second period before he was substituted with 20 minutes left.
Morgan Rogers - 6
Booked early for a foul on Evanilson. Worked hard in a front two with Watkins out of possession. Twice instrumental in the second goal, scored by Onana. Misplaced a through ball to Watkins on the hour. Nice shot on the turn went close in the middle of the second half.
Unfortunate to give away the Bournemouth penalty for handball. Substituted late.
Ollie Watkins - 6
Improved movement after a poor performance last time out. One shot blocked, another saved after a sharp volley on the turn. As the chances started to come, a goal felt closer than it had for a while. He didn’t get his goal but he can take a lot of credit for Barkley’s, having won the corner. Substituted with ten minutes left.
Substitutes
Ross Barkley (for Buendía, 71) - Made it 3-0 with a delicious glancing header from a corner, quickly capping what was already a dynamic cameo. 7
Youri Tielemans (for McGinn, 71) - What a player. 7
Jadon Sancho (for Onana, 71) - Close to an assist for what would have been a Tielemans goal without a big deflection off Malen for 4-0. 6
Lamare Bogarde (for Kamara, 81) - Late substitute. N/A
Donyell Malen (for Watkins, 81) - Late substitute. Scored Villa’s fourth by deflected Tielemans’ shot past the goalkeeper and should have had another. N/A
Evann Guessand (for Rogers, 86) - Late substitute. N/A