Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos dismal in defeat – Aston Villa player ratings v Chelsea
Aston Villa produced a hugely disappointing performance as they were outclassed by a struggling Chelsea side to go out of the FA Cup after a 3-1 loss.
The visitors went ahead against the run of play early as Conor Gallagher fired into the top corner after Boubacar Kamara had surrendered possession, before Nicolas Jackson doubled the lead on 21 minutes as he headed home a Malo Gusto cross in a shock first half where the Villans were miles short of their best.
Things went from bad to worse after the break as Enzo Fernandez fired a stunning free kick home from distance as the sparkling Aston Villa that dismantled Sheffield United four days previous was nowhere to be seen, while substitute Moussa Diaby did net a late consolation.
Aston Villa and Chelsea swap roles after weekend exploits
Here, Aston Villa News rates the players out of 10 for their performances at Villa Park. All stats via SofaScore.
Emi Martinez – 6
Little he could do about Gallagher’s early strike, nor Jackson’s second as he was left exposed by his midfield and defence. Did make one important save before the break to stop matters getting worse. Hard to blame the Argentine too much for the third either as his World Cup-winning teammate placed the free kick perfectly out of reach. As well as the three that went past him he had to make five saves.
Matty Cash – 6
Partly to blame for sparking the collapsed as he was caught high up the field as Nicolas Jackson countered in space down the left for the opener but did adequately otherwise, winning three of his four duels on the ground and in the air, and completing both his attempted dribbles down the right.
Diego Carlos – 2
Looked bad as soon as he was put under pressure and won just one of his five ground duels (20%). Couldn’t block Jackson’s ball in for the first goal, then didn’t pick up the striker and was caught under the ball for the Senegalese to head home behind him. Got a first-half booking after Gusto beat him three times down the Aston Villa right in one of four fouls. Played 11 long balls but found his target with only five (45%).
Clement Lenglet – 6
Potentially the pick of Unai Emery’s defence although that wasn’t saying much, but at least he wasn’t making obvious errors. Won two of three ground duels and completed 49 of 56 passes (88%).
Alex Moreno – 4
Dismal first half showing once Chelsea turned the tables on him. Up high early but chose the wrong option with his head when found in acres of space at the back post in the opening minutes, and looked panicked in defence as the visitors doubled their lead and threatened a third soon after. His confidence appeared shot until the break as he fluffed his lines going forward and appeared besieged at the back. Did improve noticeably late on but the damage had already been done as he surrendered possession 11 times in total and won just one of four duels on the ground (25%).
Boubacar Kamara (off for Iroegbunam ’87) – 3
Dreadful start in midfield, wasting possession repeatedly while offering nothing to shield the Aston Villa defence and it didn’t get much better from there. His loose pass gave the ball away for Chelsea to counter of Gallagher’s opener in one of five instances of surrendering possession and was all too often bypassed by the play entirely, registering 45 touches from 87 minutes in the centre of midfield.
Douglas Luiz – 4
Surprisingly poor showing. Nowhere to be found as Noni Madueke surged through his area of the midfield in the build up to the second goal and a long way short of the imperious performance he put in at Bramall Lane as he lost the ball 13 times and won only four of his nine ground duels (44%).
Leon Bailey (off for Zaniolo ’87) – 6
Looked relatively sharp on the rare occasions he got near the ball but after an excellent game in the win over the Blades that was much-reduced. If Villa were to get back into the game it seemed he would be as likely as anyone as he was fouled three times, but only attempted two dribbles, completing just one (50%).
Youri Tielemans (off for Ramsey ’71) – 4
Some neat passing in the early exchanges as he registered on key pass but struggled to get on the ball as Villa crumbled in the first half. While most of his teammates improved slightly after the break the Belgian actually got worse as his passing radar went haywire and he finished with just a 60% completion rate (12 of 20) and lost possession 10 times.
John McGinn (off for Diaby ’71) – 6
Barged Caicedo off the ball inside a minute as an early show of intent but soon faded along with his shocked teammates and only attempted 15 passes all game, completing just 10 (67%). Did go close just before the half with one of his two shots and the furious skipper was at least showing some fight in the second 45 so it was odd to see him go off.
Ollie Watkins – 7 – Man of the Match
Looked as shocked by his own teammates as they did by everything else as he was the only Aston Villa player who looked anything like the world-beater from the Sheffield United win. Stung Đorđe Petrovic’s hands with a fierce strike, his only shot, soon after going behind while showing his usual good movement as he carried some actual threat and made two key passes, but was forced to feed on scraps as he only managed 25 touches.
Substitutions
Jacob Ramsey (on for Tielemans ’71) – 5
Little impact as he failed with one ground duel and one attempted dribble.
Moussa Diaby (on for McGinn ’71) – 7
Injected some impetus and pulled one back late on with a low shot off the post from the edge of the box from one of just 15 touches.
Tim Iroegbunam (on for Kamara ’87) – 6
Nicolo Zaniolo (on for Bailey ’87) – 6
In other Aston Villa news, a Sky Sports pundit was falling over himself to praise one Villa ace as on par with a Manchester City star.
For more Aston Villa news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.