Leon Bailey stinks with 4/10, Matty Cash shines with 9/10 – Aston Villa player ratings v Middlesbrough
Aston Villa secured their place in the FA Cup fourth round and their first win in the competition since 2016 after a narrow 1-0 win against Middlesbrough on Saturday (6 January).
Championship club Boro were close to earning a replay when Cash’s attempt from outside the box took a heavy deflection and beat Tom Glover in the 87th minute.
Villa held on to record their first win in the FA Cup in eight years – a 2016 replay win over Wycombe Wanderers – to secure their place in the fourth round.
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
Had barely anything to do in the first half until he was called into action for the first time after 34 minutes brilliantly parrying away a stinging Morgan Rogers drive. Finished the game with only one save and a hugely valuable clean sheet to boot.
Matty Cash – 9
Cash has become an unfortunate casualty in terms of losing his regular place in the Aston Villa team with Emery preferring Konsa at right-back recently but the Pole certainly staked his claim for a spot back against Boro with a superb match-winning display.
Cash bagged his fourth goal of the campaign but it was his overall display for Aston Villa that will have Emery mightily impressed, winning seven of his total duels, registering two key passes, completing eight long balls and completing 89% of his passes.
Ezri Konsa – 7
Try and speed or bamboozle your way past Ezri Konsa at your peril. The Englishman has become an undroppable commodity in the Aston Villa backline simply because of his reliable and solid presence whenever playing at right-back or centre-back and Boro found that out, winning 75 per cent of his ground duels and completing 95 per cent of his passes.
Clement Lenglet – 7
A solid display from the Frenchman as his positional opponent Pau Torres was kept on the bench for the game. The Barcelona loanee was a reliable component again with his 93 per cent pass success rate and recording a whopping 107 touches.
Alex Moreno – 7
Aston Villa really are in very capable and excellent hands when Lucas Digne isn’t around that’s because Moreno is just as good as the Frenchman. An action-packed display in the first half, registering one key pass, winning 66 per cent of his ground duels and completing 87 per cent of his passes and the Spaniard kept up the vein of form as Villa won it in the end.
John McGinn – 6
Not McGinn’s best performance by a country mile as the Scot didn’t provide the attacking class Emery needed before being dragged off after 70 minutes. Failed to register a single key pass in his advanced role and only won two of his eight ground duels.
Boubacar Kamara – 7
On his return from suspension, Kamara was at his solid and dominant best at the heart of the Aston Villa midfield, winning ten of his 15 ground duel attempts, winning 66 per cent of his aerial duels, registering two key passes and completing 86 per cent of his passes. Tremendous showing.
Leander Dendoncker – 7
The exit rumours certainly aren’t ending on Dendoncker but if he continues to perform like this, Emery could well decide to keep him around for a little bit longer. Was superb alongside Kamara in midfield, winning four of his seven total duels, completing 100 per cent of his dribbles and 95 per cent of his passes in another impressive display from the Belgian.
Jacob Ramsey – 7
Hasn’t looked the same Ramsey we know and love since his return from injury over the past month but certainly took a huge step towards some form with an encouraging display against Middlesbrough. Delivered a stunning last-ditch tackle in the closing stages after the home side were bearing down on goal.
Leon Bailey – 4
Looked rather lost in the first half which is uncharacteristic of him given his tremendous form in recent weeks, bagging three goals and two assists in his last seven Premier League appearances. Was also given a needless yellow card before half-time for dissent, protesting for a foul that never was. A stinking display from the Jamaican losing 84% of his duels, and completing 50 per cent of his dribbles.
Jhon Duran – 6
Tremendous player when he’s in the mood and it certainly showed in the first-half calling the Middlesbrough keeping into instant action after two impressive and rasping drives with his left foot. Has been linked with a move away already this month but his burgeoning potential makes him a steady understudy to Ollie Watkins.
Subs
Ollie Watkins (on for Duran 70′) – 5
Douglas Luiz (on for Dendoncker 70′) – 5
Moussa Diaby (on for McGinn 70′) – 5
Nicolo Zaniolo (on for Bailey 70′) – 6
In other Aston Villa news, a BBC pundit has waxed lyrical over a first-team player and has dubbed him “Phenomenal” after what he did recently.