Aston Villa: Unai Emery must hook Moussa Diaby at HT v Bournemouth, not clinical enough
Unai Emery must contemplate axing Moussa Diaby at half-time as Aston Villa look to claim a victory against Bournemouth at Villa Park on Sunday (21 April).
The French forward has experienced a rollercoaster of a first season in England, scoring just two goals in his last 12 appearances, and his display in the first 45 minutes against the Cherries will do his confidence no favours.
Morgan Rogers did brilliantly to set Diaby up after 20 minutes, finding him unmarked in the penalty area after just 20 minutes, and the whole of Villa Park let out a moan as he failed to convert.
Despite an xG of 0.22, as per FotMob, the 24-year-old nearly missed the ball entirely, with the ball finally spinning out for a goal kick.
That dreadful miss was compounded at the other end as Matty Cash fouled Milos Kerkez in the penalty area, with Dominic Solanke subsequently converting from 12 yards.
Rogers saved Emery’s blushes going into the half-time break, smashing home in the first minute of added time to equalise with Villa’s first shot on target of the match.
Moussa Diaby misses crucial chance in Aston Villa v Bournemouth
Despite maintaining a 100 per cent pass accuracy, Diaby’s first-half performance was nothing to shout home about as the Cherries took a 1-0 lead into the break. [FotMob]
His 0 per cent shot accuracy can be pin-pointed as a crucial moment as Villa went 1-0 behind just 13 minutes later. The forward was even involved in Bournemouth winning the ball back, going down far too easily and giving possession away.
As well as missing one big chance, Diaby took just 11 touches, being dribbled past once, winning 50 per cent of his ground duels, and delivering crosses with 0 per cent accuracy.
Though Emery will be desperate for his expensive signing to add to his eight Villa goals since arriving at Villa Park last summer, the forward has failed to stamp his mark on the game as hoped.
In other Aston Villa news, a journalist has raged at the “unfair” criticism he’s seen aimed at a Villa star.
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