Matty Cash proves Aston Villa aren’t one-dimensional after clinical first half v Burnley
Aston Villa defender Matty Cash proved that his side are not one-dimensional following his clinical first-half performance against Burnley on Sunday (27 August).
The Poland international scored twice in the opening 20 minutes of the game at Turf Moor to ensure the Villans went in at the break with a 2-0 lead.
The 26-year-old would be one of the last Villa men you would expect to get a first-half double, but it shows that Unai Emery’s men can score from anywhere with the confidence that is currently flowing through the side.
On his 100th appearance for the club, Cash opened the scoring in the eighth minute after Ollie Watkins delivered a cross to the defender, who beat his man at the back post to find the back of the net.
Playing in a wing-back role, with Emery opting for a back-three, summer signing Moussa Diaby cut the ball back to his teammate and he swept home for his second of the game in the 20th minute.
That is quite a turn in fortunes for the Villa man after he failed to score a single goal in his 28 appearances for the club last season, where he also only registered one assist.
The defender enjoyed the attacking freedom he was given in the first half after he had three shots at goal, recording an impressive 66 per cent conversion rate [WhoScored].
He also enjoyed a lot of touches (24) across the opening 45 minutes, with only Diego Carlos (37), Ezri Konsa (30) and Boubacar Kamara (27) having more.
His goals also proved that Emery is looking for more players to get on the scoresheet this season after they have previously been heavily reliant on Watkins, who scored 15 Premier League goals last season.
The forward is surprisingly yet to get off the mark in the league this campaign despite the Villans scoring seven goals in their opening three matches.
The 27-year-old did, however, score a hat-trick in the 5-0 victory over Hibernian in the Europa Conference League qualifier in midweek.
That made him one of seven Villa players to have found the back of the net in all competitions this season alongside Cash, with John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey, Jhon Duran and Diaby also getting off the mark in their opening four outings.
This bodes extremely well for Emery as he will need everyone to chip in as his side look to compete well in Europe and finish as high up as they possibly can in the Premier League this season.
In other Aston Villa news, an update has been shared in the club’s pursuit of a defender.