Aston Villa player ratings as one player shines in goalless Premier League draw with Everton
Villa labour again to a second goalless draw and second point of 2025/26
Four matches. No goals. And that’s if we only count this season. It’s absolutely pathetic.
Aston Villa took the conservative approach from the start again and came away from Everton without a goal. They weren’t really set up to go and get one and it’s high bloody time they were.
Villa have their own problems but it’s worth noting a particularly bad piece of refereeing, and one that makes you wonder why people bother opposing abuse of officials.
Jack Grealish, already on a yellow card, subjected Simon Hooper to the most obvious show of dissent you’ll see all season. If you can explain why he wasn’t sent off, you’re a better analyst than me.
Anyway, here are the Villa ratings:
Emiliano Martínez - 7
Good save to keep out Beto in the eighth minute but the goal wouldn’t have counted. Made another with his feet to keep out a deflected Grealish effort. Uncertain handling just after the hour after Everton got in behind on the Villa right, before capping his performance with an outstanding save with 19 minutes to go.
Matty Cash - 5
Committed a foul throw near the Everton goal with Villa in a good position. Largely stood up well to an in-form Grealish until he got booked for fouling him in the 34th minute to leave himself with a problem. Served no real purpose on the ball.
Ezri Konsa - 7
In partnership with Tyrone Mings, found himself in a physical battle with Beto but handled his business well with and without the ball. Pulled out a Paul McGrath interception before half time. It was an accident. But it still happened.
Tyrone Mings - 6
Went down injured in the third minute, by which time Everton should have led through Beto. Came back on with a grimace after treatment. Lost Beto under a high ball and was fortunate to get away with it but was otherwise pretty comfortable. Made a crucial tackle on Thierno Barry with two minutes to go.
Nice clipped pass in behind to pick out Emi Buendía’s run in the 36th minute.
Lucas Digne - 5
Some good defensive work with Everton putting on the pressure in the first half. Remarkably, the second Villa player in the first half to commit a foul throw. Everton dealt with him quite easily in possession. Booked for a foul on Iliman Ndiaye ten minutes into the second half.
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Lamare Bogarde - 8
Started in the double pivot with Youri Tielemans but dropped into a back three in possession, allowing the full-backs to get forward. Vital intervention on the cover after quarter of an hour and not for the last time. Moved the ball well, carried it to drag the team forward and was instrumental in Villa getting a foot on it after a poor start.
Bogarde was the most surprising inclusion in the starting line-up but justified his place and then some with a very good all-round display. Villa’s man of the match by a mile. Substituted in the 82nd minute.
Youri Tielemans - 6
Terrific skill to twist out of trouble early on. Typically useful on the ball in midfield and read the play well, but Everton carved out a chance from his mistake after half an hour and he gave the ball away again soon after. Substituted at half time.
John McGinn - 6
Unburdened of the need to offer what passes for Villa’s width, the skipper was able to get into better areas and get involved in more suitable and familiar ways. Went back into midfield alongside Bogarde after Tielemans went off. Muscled off the ball by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Everton should have scored in the aftermath.
Morgan Rogers - 5
Started to show flashes of his old self with the ball and continued to demonstrate the ability that won plaudits in an England shirt in midweek but had limited direct impact on the play. Passing in key areas found wanting again. Very quiet after the break.
Emi Buendía - 6
Lined up on the left with Rogers in the middle behind Ollie Watkins. Looked incisive when he was able to get on the ball. Wasted possession with an ambitious shot when Jordan Pickford gave the ball away in the middle of the first half but thought he’d scored with a deflected shot early in the second.
Worked hard to contribute defensively. Booked for a very untidy foul on Ndiaye with 20 minutes left just as he was about to be replaced by Harvey Elliott.
Ollie Watkins - 4
Struggled to get involved again but looked much fresher when Villa were able to get him into it. Much improved hold-up play and paired up better with Rogers in the first half than in Villa’s previous matches but even less of a participant early in the second. Substituted in the 82nd minute.
Substitutes
Evann Guessand (for Tielemans, HT) - Brought in to play on the right with McGinn dropping into midfield. Won the ball back high early in the half to start an attack before buying a Grealish caution on 68 minutes. 6
Harvey Elliott (for Buendía, 71) - Debut off the bench and went straight into the 10 role. Obvious quality on the ball from the word go, and the graft out of possession to match. 6
Donyell Malen (for Watkins, 82) - Late substitute. N/A
Victor Lindelöf (for Bogarde, 82) - Late substitute. N/A