Ollie Watkins is hero, 4/10 stinks – Aston Villa player ratings v Everton
Aston Villa completed a remarkable turnaround at Villa Park to beat Everton 3-2 in the Premier League on 14 September.
The Villans got the better of the visitors in the opening exchanges before Amadou Onana gifted his former side a golden opportunity, losing a battle with Dwight McNeil and, the forward gave the visitors the lead.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubled their advantage minutes later through a set-piece to stun Villa Park.
Ollie Watkins then came to the rescue for Aston Villa following up his first-half strike with another goal in the second before Jhon Duran completed the rout with a wonderful strike from distance.
Here’s how Villa News rated each player out of 10 against Everton, with all stats from SofaScore.
Aston Villa beat Everton 3-2
Emiliano Martinez – 5
Martinez was pictured with his jaw dropped when Duran completed the turnaround and the goalkeeper will be the most relieved man inside Villa Park. The World Cup winner made no saves, prevented -0.83 goals conceding two, and was booked for time-wasting in the second half.
Lamare Bogarde – 7
While Digne will take the plaudits for his contributions further up the pitch, Bogarde produced a solid defensive performance against Everton. The 20-year-old won 63 per cent of his duels, completed two key passes with one big chance created from his 89 per cent completed passes and made five tackles with one interception. What a statement from the young full-back.
Ezri Konsa – 6
Konsa was the busier of the two centre-halves with three clearances, two tackles, and one last-man tackle and won 100 per cent of his ground duels. The English international completed 93 per cent of his passes but was a culprit to his side’s demise in the first half.
Pau Torres – 5
The Spaniard was poor and his performance nearly cost his side as they succumbed to a two-goal deficit after the half-hour mark. Torres won only two of his five aerial duels and lost possession 15 times on the day. He should consider himself a very lucky man.
Lucas Digne [off for Ian Maatsen 69′] – 7
Digne put in a solid performance against his former side and played a vital role in the comeback, assisting Watkins for Villa’s first goal. The Frenchman made three key passes and two big chances out of his 90 per cent completed, and won 57 per cent of his duels at Villa Park. He had little to do with the two goals his side conceded and was a constant attacking threat for his side.
Amadou Onana [off for Ross Barkley 46′] – 4
The Belgian was in all the headlines leading into the clash at Villa Park and he will wake up tomorrow on the back pages for all the wrong reasons. Onana made one error leading to the opening goal, lost possession six times, and won only 62 per cent of his duels in a dreadful display.
Youri Tielemans – 6
The Belgian kept his side moving with a 93 per cent pass completion rate out of 135 attempts with one key pass but offered little else, other than holding possession. Tielemans won 80 per cent of his ground duels and all-in-all produced a solid but unremarkable outing at Villa Park.
Ollie Watkins saves Aston Villa against Everton
John McGinn – 6
The Aston Villa captain looks a natural as a defensive winger on the right-hand side but his attacking output from the flanks leaves a lot to be desired. McGinn did win 62 per cent of his duels but did fail in 83 per cent of his crosses attempted and was dispossessed nine times.
Morgan Rogers – 6
Rogers was one of the more active Aston Villa attackers on Saturday with three shots on target and one key pass. He also missed one big chance and could’ve easily been on the scoresheet at Villa Park. The 22-year-old can consider himself unlucky, it wasn’t through a lack of trying.
Jacob Ramsey [off for Jhon Duran 69′] – 5
The 23-year-old was virtually non-existent against Everton. He completed none of his three attempted dribbles, lost 62 per cent of his ground duels, and lost possession nine times in an uncharacteristically poor outing for Ramsey.
Ollie Watkins [off for Emiliano Buendia 84′] – 9
The Englishman could have easily given his side the lead with two early chances but was on hand to claw back the deficit with a brace. Watkins is finally off the mark in the Premier League after four matches and in some style. His two goals from six shots equate to a 33 per cent goal conversion rate from an xG of 1.27.
Substitutions:
Ross Barkley – 7
Barkley became the third former Everton player to lineup for the Villans and was excellent after replacing Onana at half-time. He completed 98 per cent of his passes with one key pass, one assist, and 100 per cent of his long balls in a phenomenal display of passing at Villa Park.
Jhon Duran – 8
Another game, another goal, another piece of individual brilliance from the Colombian. Duran took one shot on target and that was all he needed to produce a sensational long-range strike to secure the victory with an xG of 0.23.
Ian Maatsen – 6
Maatsen failed to produce the same attacking output as Digne, but he gave it his all with three key passes, 84 per cent pass accuracy, and completed his one cross attempt. A solid cameo from the Dutchman.
Emiliano Buendia – N/A
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