3/10 Nicolo Zaniolo stinker, 8/10 Douglas Luiz MOTM – Aston Villa player ratings v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa came back from behind in dramatic style to pick up all three points against Crystal Palace in an entertaining 3-1 victory at Villa Park on Saturday 16 September.
Crystal Palace took the lead early in the second half, against the run of play, when Odsonne Edouard finished off some excellent wing play from Jean-Philippe Mateta after Villa dominated much of the proceedings.
It didn’t take until the 87th minute for Jhon Duran to score a sensational equalizer before Douglas Luiz, and Leon Bailey scored in stoppage time to round off the victory and return the Villans back to winning ways after their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool before the international break.
The result takes Villa above their opponents into seventh place on nine points from their first five games.
Here, Aston Villa News rates the Villa players out of 10 for their performance against Crystal Palace.
Emi Martinez – 6
The Argentinian goalkeeper can certainly count himself lucky that his teammates bailed him out after a dreadful slip that led to Crystal Palace’s opener. Still had a comfortable afternoon and performed a crucial save from Ebere Eze when the score was still at 1-0 to the away side.
Matty Cash – 5
After some brilliant displays most notably against Burnley, Everton and the second-leg Europa Conference League qualifying tie against Hibernian, the 26-year-old struggled to maintain it following a disastrous afternoon against Liverpool which was carried forward into the international break for Poland and like many of his teammates this afternoon, Cash won’t be delighted with his individual performance.
Ezri Konsa – 5
Konsa has proven a stalwart throughout Emery’s time at Aston Villa, forming a rock-solid partnership with Tyrone Mings but now he’ll have to find himself without Mings’ presence and leadership and his performance against Palace shows he’s got a long way to go before he can consider himself a safe defender without his fellow countryman. Konsa looked far from assured up against Edouard who ran rings around him all game.
Pau Torres – 5
A quality defender on his day and his amazing pass for Moussa Diaby’s disallowed strike was simply stunning but the way he was beaten for pace and strength Jean-Philippe Mateta for Palace’s opener was incredibly concerning and makes Aston Villa wonder, would that have happened had Tyrone Mings been on the pitch? Arguably not.
Lucas Digne – 7
If there is one player who has undergone a stunning improvement at Villa Park in recent weeks, it’s certainly Lucas Digne who enjoyed a sparkling afternoon, a strong improvement on what he showed against Liverpool before the international break, registering another assist, winning eight of his total duels but losing possession of the ball 33 times [SofaScore] but it was indeed an influential showing from the Frenchman, and pretty timely too with Alex Moreno back from injury.
Boubacar Kamara – 4
A poor showing from such a talented midfield player. Kamara has Youri Tielemans to contend with for his midfield position and this performance may have just swang Emery’s decision in the Belgian’s favour rather than the Frenchman and a seed was certainly sown when Emery chalked off Kamara for Tielemans in the 57th minute. The former Marseille man registered four ground duels won, successfully completed five of his seven long balls [SofaScore], but that was about it as he was largely ineffective alongside Luiz. His starting place at Villa Park is under serious threat.
Douglas Luiz – 8
Luiz has automatically become that one Aston Villa player who just oozes class every time he takes to the pitch at Villa Park and that was again evident against Palace as the Brazilian put in a complete performance in the first half as his team dominated proceedings which carried through to the second half and he was at the heart of everything good about Villa.
The Brazilian won ten of his ground duels, completed all of his long balls, laid on one key pass and successfully completed 87% of his passes [SofaScore] in a crucial performance. Not his best, but one which proves just how influential he is for Emery. Scored the crucial match-winner from the penalty spot.
Nicolo Zaniolo – 3
Zaniolo must be afforded time to get to grips with the Premier League and that fact was truly exemplified in the first half against Palace. While he may have created a guilt-edged chance for Matty Cash, he still cut an ineffective figure in his first start for his new team.
As per SofaScore, the former Roma man won just two of his eight duels at a rate of 25%, completed one of his four dribbles, lost possession of the ball 12 times, dribbled past once and was given a needless yellow card for time wasting.
Moussa Diaby – 7
Every time Diaby takes to the field for Aston Villa, he always looks a threat as was the case for his former side Bayer Leverkusen. His excellent positioning, searing pace and movement beyond the defences are majestic and he certainly thought he grabbed another goal for his new club when he took on Pau Torres’ pass with an amazing first touch while taking his chance with sublime precision only for it to be correctly chalked off by VAR.
Largely quiet in the second half but he’s an absolute world star and will be key for the Villans in the weeks ahead. What a player.
John McGinn – 5
As was the case with many of his teammates this afternoon, John McGinn was largely ineffective in yet another drab result for the Villans. McGinn is certainly one of the players Emery has rather grown to love throughout his tenure in West Midlands but the Scot had an off-day against Crystal Palace, winning just four of his nine ground duels, losing possession of the ball ten times and completing 50% of his dribbles [SofaScore] before being taken off for the Villa’s saviour Duran.
Ollie Watkins – 5
How many chances does Watkins need to score? It’s now five games without scoring in the Premier League for the England international and it’s no wonder he can’t get a look in Gareth Southgate’s squad right now. Watkins’ form has got to be a major concern for Emery, and the Spaniard will surely regret his decision to sanction Cameron Archer’s exit to Sheffield United.
As per SofaScore, Watkins underperformed his very low xG of 0.49, registered one key pass, missed two clear-cut chances, failed to successfully complete any of his dribbles and won just one of his duels in another tepid and lacklustre performance. With the Villans set to face some crucial run of games in the coming weeks, he’s simply got to find a way to get his star man firing again.
Substitutes
Youri Tielemans (on for Kamara 57′) – 7
Leon Bailey (on for Nicolo Zaniolo 57′) – 7
Scored the crucial third goal to put the game beyond all doubt.
Jhon Duran (on for John McGinn 72′) – 8
No need to say much about Duran’s showing but with Watkins struggling to light the touch paper so far this campaign in front of goal, the Colombian may just prove the unexpected solution with an absolute worldie strike in the 87th minute. Wow.
In other Aston Villa news, one Villa Park wonder will now use his international exposure as a tool to develop fully into a Premier League star.