Aston Villa player ratings as Ross Barkley scores in damaging Premier League defeat at Manchester United
Villa never win at Old Trafford and they especially didn't win at Old Trafford today
Improving the performance after losses to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea wasn’t difficult. Turning that slight improvement into ideas, chances and goals proved more of a challenge.
Aston Villa shot themselves in the foot against Manchester United yet again, conceding twice from individual mistakes after dragging themselves back into the game through a Ross Barkley equaliser.
United’s second goal was against the run of play and self-inflicted. The failings in this Villa team are there for all to see and the more they become avoidable, the more questions have to be asked about their ability to finish in the top five in the Premier League.
On recent evidence, they won’t be there for long. The Champions League places are slipping out of Villa’s grasp.
Here are the ratings:
Emiliano Martínez - 6
Seemed reluctant to deal with crosses at the top of his six-yard box. Made an excellent save to keep out an Amad Diallo header in the middle of the first half and another to palm away a shot from Bryan Mbeumo early in the second.
Lamare Bogarde - 5
Generally good defensively but had a very tricky direct opponent and was always susceptible to United getting Luke Shaw on the overlap. Caught out by Matheus Cunha for the 3-1 goal and then gave the ball away in the box. Kept it simple with the ball.
Ezri Konsa - 6
Composed and competent with the ball, and seldom pressed. Tidy defending when called upon and was able to help Bogarde out when he was facing his own goal.
Tyrone Mings - 6
Tracked Diallo to defend a dangerous cross from United’s left after quarter of an hour. Did some very useful last-man defending but long passing was short of quality. Heavily worked by United’s barrage of crosses.
Lucas Digne - 6
Saw plenty of the ball on the left as Villa’s only potent attacking full-back and tended to use it well. Substituted in the last ten minutes.
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Ross Barkley - 6
Offered an easy presence on the ball in the middle and the quality of his passing was a welcome addition. Willing to take a risk in the opposition half in the name of invention and also to do his defensive duties. Lost Casemiro for the opening goal but swept home nicely in the middle of the second half to equalise. Went off in the last ten minutes.
Amadou Onana - 5
Decent defensive screen but sloppy touches in the first quarter of the game led to him being dispossessed. Able to find Digne at will. Battled hard to force Villa’s first shot on target.
Emi Buendía - 4
Looked back to his bustling self in the early minutes but rarely able to affect the game in possession. Dallied on the ball in the United box to squander a good opening on half an hour. Booked for dissent. Substituted late with an injury.
John McGinn - 7
Started on the right of Villa’s attacking three and formed the front two out of possession with Ollie Watkins. Dropped into the middle to keep the ball protected and swapped with Morgan Rogers very occasionally to play to his right. Got little out of the referee. Substituted after an hour.
Morgan Rogers - 5
Moved to the right from the start to accommodate McGinn. Quiet first half but moments of class gave Villa some attacking hope. Looked Villa’s most dangerous player but gave the ball away, ultimately leading to the opening goal. More impactful in the centre after the first substitutions.
Ollie Watkins - 3
The usual effort and movement were there but the touch and match impact were not. Earned a stupid yellow card late in the first half. Once again wasted shooting opportunities by trying to chop from one foot to the other. Substituted on the hour.
Substitutes
Leon Bailey (for McGinn, 61) - Teed up Tammy Abraham for a decent look at goal but made a lazy pass in the final third led directly to the 2-1 goal. 3
Tammy Abraham (for Watkins, 61) - Unable to sort his feet out quicky enough to score in the middle of the second half, his only involvement of note. 4
Douglas Luiz (for Barkley, 82) - Late substitute. N/A
Ian Maatsen (for Digne, 82) - Late substitute. N/A
Andrés García (for Buendía, 86) - Late substitute. N/A