Aston Villa player ratings as Ollie Watkins leads the way to a Premier League win over Fulham
Watkins scores his first goal of 2025/26 as Villa win 3-1 at home
Now we’re talking.
Aston Villa came into this clash with Fulham without a home win or even a home goal in the Premier League this season, but were evidently buoyed by Thursday’s Europa League win over Bologna.
Ollie Watkins, John McGinn and Emi Buendía scored the goals at Villa came from behind to collect their first league maximum of the 2025/26 season and did it, in the end, with no little style.
Here are the ratings:
Emiliano Martínez - 6
Had no chance with the early goal and saved from Josh King with ten minutes played. Didn’t have much else to deal with in the first half until a tame King header needed fielding just before the break. Fluffed his lines in possession in a dangerous spot in the second half but Ezri Konsa spared his blushes, if he has any.
Matty Cash - 7
Excellent combination on the right with Evann Guessand after quarter of an hour. Superb defending to back-track and win a ball in the middle of the first half. Fortunate to get away with a missed tackle on King soon afterwards that resulted in a VAR check for a Cash handball.
Faced a number of genuine tests again across the 90 minutes and performed well.
Ezri Konsa - 7
Good recovery to keep Harry Wilson out after 13 minutes before the offside flag went up. Relatively comfortable again as the best defender on the pitch and barely tested.
Stunning clearance off the line after Martínez’s mistake at 3-1.
Tyrone Mings - 5
Substituted through injury after 31 minutes.
Lucas Digne - 7
Terrific long pass in behind for Ollie Watkins to break his duck after 36 minutes. Free kick on target on the stroke of half time, nicely placed but easily saved by Bernd Leno. Fed Watkins on the left to create the third goal. Very tidy defensively throughout.
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John McGinn - 7
Nipped in to grab a loose pass at the back but squandered the chance. Booked for fouling Sander Berge in time added on in the first half but earned Calvin Bassey’s yellow card with a powerful carry out of defence.
Scored a sensational goal to make it 2-1 four minutes into the second half and went off injured with 20 minutes left.
Lamare Bogarde - 5
Mismatched with Raúl Jiménez from a corner from which the striker scored in the third minute after losing the Villa man. King sold him a dummy early on that led to a shot on target. Shaky start but gradually grew into the task in midfield. Played an underrated role in the goal that made it 2-1.
Tracked Saša Lukić well to prevent a likely goal in first-half stoppage time. Substituted with eight minutes to go.
Evann Guessand - 6
Provided some early thrust on the right as he continues to find his groove. Caused Fulham real problems and King should have been booked for pulling him back shortly before he was yellow-carded, not for the first time, for diving.
Snapped into the press late in the first half and full of defensive graft in the second but attacking moments were brief. One of Villa’s late substitutions.
Harvey Elliott - 6
Linked play nicely in the pocket and able to break the lines when he could get turned. Consistently showed the obvious technical ability that should benefit Villa. Went quiet after a positive start with Fulham shutting down the middle of their half. Replaced by Emi Buendía at half time.
Morgan Rogers - 6
Possible question mark over whether he could have done more to keep out Jiménez’s header but slow-mo is a bastard. Occasionally tried to force it but still not hiding and looked much more relaxed at 2-1. Played a cool pass to Digne to help make the third goal.
Made a good run in the first half that was picked out by Martínez but couldn’t reel it in and had the same problem from a McGinn pass late in the period. Confident running to draw a yellow card for Lukić.
Better. Much better.
Ollie Watkins - 7
Anonymous for the first half an hour and then took his first goal of the season absolutely beautifully, lifting the ball over Bernd Leno from Lucas Digne’s pass to meet Watkins’ well-timed run. Vital role in the third goal and looked a more confident striker all-round in the second half.
Substitutes
Pau Torres (for Mings, 32) - On for injured Mings. 6
Emi Buendía (for Elliott, HT) - On at the break. Very classy assist for McGinn’s goal and fired in Villa’s third a minute later. 7
Boubacar Kamara (for McGinn, 71) - First interventions, one attacking and one defensive, were spot on. 6
Donyell Malen (for Guessand, 82) - Late substitute. N/A
Victor Lindelöf (for Bogarde, 82) - Late substitute. N/A