Aston Villa player ratings as Brentford inflict deserved Premier League defeat
Villa fall short against weak opposition in their first away game of the season
One point from the first two games of the Premier League season is a really disappointing return from Unai Emery and his players at the start of 2025/26.
Aston Villa won’t be thrilled about their first two results but it’s the performances that will be Emery’s primary concern after a frankly dismal opening to a new campaign.
Brentford were rubbish. Make of that what you will.
Here are the ratings:
Emiliano Martínez - 6
Initially made a one-on-one save against Dango Ouattara before the Brentford forward got a lucky bounce to finish his debut goal. Barely involved after that.
Matty Cash - 6
The first Villa player to show any thrust capable of dragging his team forward at speed. Delivery at corners left a lot to be desired but his choice of club from the bag felt instructed.
Tyrone Mings - 7
The better of Villa’s centre-backs. Often called upon on the cover. Terrific long pass to Ollie Watkins in the middle of the second half. Led by example in the second half despite not being in his preferred spot. Played the last few minutes injured.
Pau Torres - 4
Coughed up possession in the Brentford half in the first five minutes. Far too pensive with the ball and caught out more than once. Painfully slow against Dango Ouattara for the goal that made it 1-0 and not for the last time. Poor passing out of the back and offered none of the progression he’s in the team to provide.
Lucas Digne - 5
Lost an early one-on-one battle with Ouattara. Little attacking output. Substituted in the second half.
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Amadou Onana - 5
Very sloppy on the ball in the early minutes. Picked out by Watkins early in the second half but attempted the shot with the wrong foot on the edge of the box. Showed a few minutes later why the other foot hadn’t been an option. Booked in the 57th minute for a poor tackle on the counter-press.
Boubacar Kamara - N/A
Key at the base of midfield as Villa slowly started to build possession in Brentford’s half but went off injured in the 16th minute.
Youri Tielemans - 6
Forced back into the midfield two by Kamara’s injury and gradually looked more like himself. More involved in the attack despite the change of role. Caught a half-volley sweetly when a corner dropped to him on half an hour, but his shot was blocked.
Morgan Rogers - 5
Showed the good and bad with his first touches, a perfect drop of the shoulder followed by a slack pass and then a long spell out of the game. Pulled a similar trick just after the break. Couldn’t get his shot away to take Villa’s best chance thus far early in the second half. Awful header over in the middle of it.
John McGinn - 5
Playing out of position again until Donyell Malen came on and it showed. Made a good block to deny Jordan Henderson in the middle of the first half. Well worked corner after half an hour led to Villa’s first shot on target from McGinn, who drew a save from the goalkeeper from the edge of the box. Replaced by Evann Guessand with 15 minutes to go.
Ollie Watkins - 5
Villa struggled to get him into the game again until just before half time. Seldom touched the ball in Brentford’s third but looked capable of doing damage when he did.
Substitutes
Emi Buendía (for Kamara, 16) - Showed his quality on the ball. Fed Rogers early in the second half after picking up a clever pass from McGinn. Emerged as Villa’s likeliest creative source and showed the benefits of a natural 10. Substituted with quarter of an hour remaining. 6
Ian Maatsen (for Digne, 64) - Offered on the underlap, which Digne hadn’t managed to do. Villa looked marginally more dangerous for his presence but it came to nothing. 5
Donyell Malen (for Onana, 64) - Swapped wings with Rogers not long after coming on. Unable to impact the game. 5
Lamare Bogarde (for McGinn, 74) - Late substitute. Picked up a yellow card. N/A
Evann Guessand (for Buendía, 75) - Late substitute. N/A
Liking this feels like when you like the news that someone just died.
I do wonder if Unai is sending a signal to the board at the moment and I’m worried that spring 2025 was as good as it was ever going to get at NSWE’s Villa.