Jacob Ramsey stinks with 3/10, Leander Dendoncker shines with 7/10 – Aston Villa player ratings v Manchester United
Aston Villa missed the chance to go level on points with Liverpool at the Premier League summit as they let a two-goal lead slip to lose 3-2 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Rasmus Hojlund scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester United after playing 1027 minutes in the competition to complete a dramatic comeback.
Aston Villa raced into a two-goal lead in the first half after goals from McGinn and Leander Dendoncker but completely imploded after half-time with two goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Hojlund compounded Villa to their first league defeat since the start of November at Nottingham Forest.
Here is how Villa News rated the performance of each Aston Villa player during the game, with the help of SofaScore stats...
Emi Martinez – 7
Tremendous goalkeeper. When Aston Villa needed him to intervene with balls over the top, Martinez duly delivered with some brilliant sweeper-keeping, completing all three of his runouts, registering four saves and completing just under 90 per cent of his passes. Massively let down by his teammates in the second half.
Ezri Konsa – 6
With Marcus Rashford out of form right now, Konsa will have expected to keep him at bay but that doesn’t mean he could take his foot off the pedal. He kept him largely quiet in the first half but struggled in the second. Was out of position for United’s goal for which he will be disappointed.
Diego Carlos – 6
Looked at his mercurial best at the heart of the Villa defence both in his passing from the back and doing his job to shepherd out Rasmus Hojlund. However, he was terribly lucky not to give away a penalty after a foul on the Danish hitman but for a correct offside call and saw himself and his teammates completely self-destruct under the Old Trafford lights.
Clement Lenglet – 6
Many Aston Villa fans will have been panicking when they saw Pau Torres on the bench and Lenglet starting in his place at Old Trafford. The Frenchman put those fears to bed with a terrific all-round display until it went all wrong after half-time. Don’t know what he was doing trying to dribble out of his own box for United’s winner though.
He could do nothing about United’s two goals but lambast Moreno for his defending in the wide areas. Pau Torres will be back in his position against Burnley at the weekend.
Lucas Digne – 5
Hooked off with an injury early in the second half and when he came off, it certainly didn’t look promising after being helped by the Aston Villa medical team.
Leander Dendoncker – 7
Grabbed his first goal in Aston Villa colours and looked assured in Boubacar Kamara’s absence at the heart of the midfield before Villa imploded completely in the second half.
It was a personal triumph for the Belgian, winning 83% of his ground duels and completing 91% of his passes but it’s certainly not enough to usurp Kamara or even prolong his Villa Park stay beyond January.
Douglas Luiz – 5
Certainly not his best performance for the Brazilian maestro as he was given the runaround from Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo. Failed to win any of his ground duels or aerial duels, completed 78% of his passes but did record two key passes which highlights his undoubted influence.
However, a poor showing by his standards.
John McGinn – 5
Poor display from McGinn by his standards. Tried to muster some creative sparks from midfield but it wasn’t to be for the Scotsman as his teammates simply failed to exert their standards in the Premier League table against a struggling Manchester United. Won four of his total duels, and registered two key passes but gave possession away 20 times.
Jacob Ramsey – 3
Ramsey stank all game for Aston Villa and some fans will have been surprised he started the game after some underwhelming displays. Rightly taken off after 77 minutes, completing just 67 per cent of his passes, failed to complete his one cross, recorded zero key passes and won just two duels all evening.
Poor.
Leon Bailey – 6
Been in terrific form in recent weeks and looked bright in the first half before faltering in the second. However, he wasn’t alone at all. Failed with two of his cross attempts, registered one key pass and won six of his total duels in the evening.
Ollie Watkins – 4
A poor showing from the international as he looked rather anonymous all evening. Tried to run the channels and get on the end of loose balls but it just did not happen for him this evening. Zero shots on target, zero key passes, and won 30 per cent of his total duels in a dreadful evening.
Subs
Alex Moreno (on for Digne 49′) – 5
Moussa Diaby (on for Jacob Ramsey 77′) – 4
Nicolo Zaniolo (on for Leon Bailey 77′) – 4
Jhon Duran (on for McGinn 85′) – N/A
Tim Iroegbunam (on for Dendoncker 85′) – N/A
In other Aston Villa news, Ian Wright has waxed lyrical over a first-team player and has dubbed him “fantastic” after what he did recently.