The Holy Trinity: Aston Villa conclusions from appalling Premier League loss against Chelsea

Villa's Champions League hopes are crumbling and the wounds are self-inflicted

Unai Emery issued a pre-match rallying cry in the matchday programme for Wednesday’s home game against Chelsea.

Aston Villa as a club have pushed the need for vocal backing on a number of occasions recently. Supporters have been asked for more – more noise, more atmosphere, more getting behind the team in difficult moments.

There’s nothing inherently wrong about appealing to the essence of the football fan but it’s not hitting the right tone at Villa. Those in an attendance for this Premier League fixture did their bit but there’s nothing they can do about the two big issues they don’t control.

The first is ticket prices. Matches are too expensive. Season tickets are too expensive. I’m counting the installation of badly placed hospitality facilities loosely under this consideration too. Obviously this stuff has an effect.

The second is, well, ticket prices. Not just the fact that they’re too expensive but the combination of cost and reward, which for match-going Villa supporters is an underperforming team consistently making the same avoidable bad decisions and playing football in a way that’s almost specifically designed to bore the match into submission.

If you’re going to play that way, you have to win. Even if you do, the edges of those Villa Park seats are quite likely to remain steadfastly unsat upon. Like it or not, this is the Emery compromise.

Here’s your Holy Trinity of match conclusions: