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Moussa Diaby in 2/10 shocker as derby-day spoils shared - Aston Villa player ratings v Wolves
Aston Villa shared the spoils with Wolves at Molineux as their tepid performance in their 1-1 draw was enough to add one point to the Premier League table.
Despite a briefly promising opening 20 minutes, Wolves frustrated Villa and held the majority of possession, but neither side had the cutting edge to break the deadlock. Wolves responded early in the second half as Hwang Hee-chan benefitted from Pedro Neto’s Pau Torres-destroying run into the box.
However, the Spaniard responded just two minutes later with Ollie Watkins recycling a failed free kick before Torres slid in to poke it home. A late Mario Lemina second yellow did not give the Villans enough of an advantage to steal the game in a disappointing away affair.
Here Villa News rates the players out of 10 for their performances in the Premier League clash.
Emi Martinez – 6
While Martinez did not have a lot to do across the game, he proved his typical reliable self. The Argentine could do nothing about Hwang’s opener for Wolves, and his quick run from the box in the 77th minute intimidated Neto into missing a one-on-one. Per SofaScore, he prevented 0.68 goals, while his two saves and one successful runout kept the score fair.
Lucas Digne – 4
Digne was involved in moments for Villa but was not his typically aggressive self. His bread and butter this season has been his goal creation, but the Frenchman struggled to get possession in dangerous areas. Just two of his 12 attempted crosses were successful, showing his passing was not as precise as in previous encounters.
Pau Torres – 7
Torres had an up-and-down game at Molineux. He was outmuscled by Neto for the opener, another sign that the Europa League winner is perhaps not quite up to speed with the Premier League. However, he responded instantly with his equalising goal which earned Villa a point on the day. As he pointed to the Villa badge, his commitment was obvious. But with just one clearance, no tackle and being dribbled past twice, the goal saved his blushes slightly.
Diego Carlos – 6
Carlos helped keep the oncoming Wolves attack at bay and his composure on the ball kept the scoreline to just 1-1. He sprung Villa attacks with his 91 per cent passing accuracy but avoided too much responsibility as the opponents seemingly targeted Torres or the wider areas.
Ezri Konsa – 5
Konsa nearly wrote himself into the headlines with a very late attempt on goal. While this may have been the highlight of his game, the Englishman remained assured at right-back. With two clearances, two blocked shots and one interception, he helped keep O’Neil’s side away from the net.
John McGinn – 6
The captain did all he could to drive his side on, but despite being a presence across the field, he could not muster up the same kind of magic that won Villa their European clash late on. He would liked to have been more of a goal threat, but with just two attempts, more should have been offered. His passing range was on display with 100 per cent successful long balls and 86 per cent accuracy as McGinn emerged as a rare highlight.
Boubacar Kamara (Off for Tielemans ’82) – 5
Kamara’s biggest issue was his inability to have an impact on the game. Emery likely spotted this, thus his substitution for the underwhelming Youri Tielemans. He kept the ball when he had it, with 94 per cent pass accuracy, but with just 16 passes overall, he could have done more. He managed to halt some Wolves attacking chances with two interceptions and two tackles, but Villa fans have come to expect more from the 23-year-old.
Douglas Luiz – 6
Luiz had plenty of the ball across the 90 minutes for Aston Villa and was the most influential midfielder across both sides. His 81% pass accuracy showed that he managed to keep the ball well, while his six attempted shots made him the most threatening midfield presence. He fell victim to Wolves’ ability to steal possession, but the Brazilian
Matty Cash (off for Leon Bailey ’82) – 3
Cash has been revered this season for his attacking output, but none of that was on show in Wolverhampton. He managed to get two shots away in both halves, but with just 50 per cent pass accuracy from 14 attempts, he lacked that cutting edge that has been so effective recently. Villa lacked much threat in the wide areas, so Emery’s decision to haul him off for Leon Bailey was understandable.
Ollie Watkins – 3
Watkins’ new contract was not enough to fire him up for this away affair. He did make a nuisance of himself in moments of the game, but he lacked much penetration and the clinical finishing that has made him so prolific in the past. He managed just a pair of shots in the game and lost five out of six aerial duels. These are the kinds of fixtures, like the Chelsea clash, where Emery may rely on a moment of magic from his star man, but his last-second headed effort was not enough to steal all three points at the death.
Moussa Diaby (Off for Zaniolo ’62) – 2
Very little can be said for Villa’s attack in the first half, but the Frenchman proved ineffective throughout the hour he was allowed to play. He managed just four attempted passes, one key pass, no dribbles and no shots. Wolves did well to subdue the Villans’ frontline, but a player of Diaby’s obviously quality will be disappointed.
Substitutions
Nicolo Zaniolo (On for Diaby ’62) – 4
The Italian looked lively in his half-an-hour shift and caused Mario Lemina to see a second yellow in the closing moments of the game
Leon Bailey (On for Cash ’82) – 3
The game petered out and the Jamaican had few opportunities to have his say. With no shots attempted and no successful dribbles, Bailey is far from an impact substitute.
Youri Tielemans (On for Kamara 82′) – 3
Tielemans, like Bailey, did not get enough minutes on the ball to change the game. He maintained possession well and was not dispossessed in his nearly 20-minute cameo, but fell victim to his side’s struggles.
In other Aston Villa news, an Aston Villa Women defender has been handed a club honour following the exit of one player.