Morgan Rogers mesmerises, Jaden Philogene cameo disaster – Aston Villa player ratings vs Fulham
Aston Villa picked up a first win in three Premier League attempts with a 3-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday (19 October).
Unai Emery’s side got off to the worst possible start as a ball over the top saw Raul Jimenez make it 1-0, but Morgan Rogers equalised within four minutes after his shot deflected off Joachim Andersen into the far corner.
At the other end, Emi Martinez proved himself a hero after VAR stepped in to award Fulham a penalty for Matty Cash’s handball, with the Argentine saving brilliantly from Andreas Pereira’s spot-kick.
Ollie Watkins crashed in a header moments after Andersen was sent off, with an Issa Diop own-goal confirming all three points for Emery.
Here, Villa News rates the Villans players out of 10 after the win, with the help of FotMob stats.
Emi Martinez – 8
Could do nothing about Jimenez’s opener as Villa were caught cold by Leno’s simple ball over the top, but did come to his side’s rescue to save and hold Pereira’s VAR-awarded penalty. That stop was one of three made by Martinez throughout the match, with the Argentinian keeping out 0.44 of his 1.44 xGOT faced and completing 10 recoveries in total.
Matty Cash – 6
Came under VAR’s microscope after Jimenez’s header deflected off his forearm, with Cash penalised by the referee but given a reprieve by Martinez. The defender was caught between Martinez and Jimenez as the trio contested a high ball and needed treatment, but Cash continued and still managed to put in seven defensive actions, winning five duels on top of four clearances.
Diego Carlos – 4
Misjudged Leno’s long punt forward which left Pau Torres exposed in an unsuccessful duel for Fulham’s opener, and provided some of Villa’s nerviest moments in defence, losing four of his six duels including a mere 33 per cent success rate on the ground and winning just one from five in the air.
Pau Torres – 5
Beaten all too easily in a tussle with Jimenez as the Fulham striker latched onto a simple ball over the top to make it 1-0 inside five minutes, but did recover to prevent Adama Traore from beating him down the right flank. The Spaniard did eventually settle into the contest though, completing 92 per cent of his passes and threading seven of these into the attacking third.
Lucas Digne – 7
Given the difficult task of dealing with Traore down Villa’s left-hand side, Digne won just 25 per cent of his duels, but still got forward at will and his cross from the left-hand side was turned into the Fulham net by Issa Diop to make it 3-1, producing Villa’s third goal despite having just 0.04 expected assists behind it. Digne was yellow carded late on for sliding in recklessly on Fulham substitute Harry Wilson.
Amadou Onana (off for Ross Barkley, 75′) – 6
A quieter performance from Villa’s deepest-lying midfielder, but one which still saw Onana complete 94 per cent of his passes, make three defensive recoveries and interceptions apiece, as well as winning four of his five duels (80 per cent) before being withdrawn for Ross Barkley with the game all-but won.
Morgan Rogers shines brightest for Aston Villa v Fulham
Youri Tielemans – 8
Provided Villa’s main link between defence and attack and was a sensation throughout, completing 91 per cent of his passes, laying on four chances from a whopping 13 final-third passes, and setting up Watkins’ goal to turn the scoreline in favour of Emery’s side with a pinpoint delivery from a corner. That was one of nine taken by the Belgian, who also chipped in with a total of eight defensive actions.
Leon Bailey (off for Jaden Philogene, 61′) – 4
Grew frustrated with the linesman after a tussle with Iwobi and Robinson on the far side, picking up a needless booking which underlined a below-par first-half display from the Jamaican. Bailey managed just 37 touches and still lost six of his seven duels on the ball, a success rate of just 17 per cent, before being replaced by Jaden Philogene.
Morgan Rogers – 9
Drifted into open space 25 yards from goal before seeing his shot deflect off Andersen to trickle into the far corner and make it 1-1 inside nine minutes. Rogers may have spurned a golden opportunity to make it 2-1 late in the first half, but with Villa leading in the second period, his through ball for Watkins resulted in the foul which saw Andersen sent off. The only blemish on Rogers’ performance came after Diop’s own goal made it 3-1, being shown a yellow card for dissent, as the 22-year-old produced 0.87 expected goals and assists combined, had a 100 per cent dribble success rate, and completed four final-third passes.
Jacob Ramsey (off for Emi Buendia, 83’) – 8
A clever run in-field opened up all the space in the world for Rogers’ fortunate equaliser, and he should have had a second assist with a well-weighted cross which the goalscorer struck wide. Ramsey went himself in the second half, drilling a low shot across the face which Leno parried behind, and produced a sublime no-look pass before Digne’s cross and Diop’s own goal. That was one of two chances created by Ramsey, who saw five of his 33 touches come in Fulham’s box.
Ollie Watkins (off for Jhon Duran, 75′) – 8
Played in behind by Tielemans with the game poised at 1-1, but saw his effort parried away from danger by Leno, and was again denied by the Fulham keeper in the second half after his snap-shot on the turn deflected off Andersen. It would be third-time lucky for Watkins though, latching onto a Tielemans corner with a bullet header into the roof of the net, putting Villa 2-1 up in clinical fashion, and just minutes later drew a last-ditch foul from Andersen which earned the Fulham defender a red card.
Substitutions
Jaden Philogene (on for Leon Bailey, 61’) – 2 – The youngster replaced Bailey early in the second half, but somehow managed to be even worse, picking up two absolutely needless yellow cards in the space of five minutes to leave both sides down to 10 men late on.
Jhon Duran (on for Ollie Watkins, 75’) – N/A – The Colombian isn’t often brought on with the game already won, and he had few chances to make his usual late impact.
Ross Barkley (on for Amadou Onana, 75’) – N/A – Thrown straight into the action with a glancing header wide from Tielemans’ corner, Barkley missed a great chance to make it 4-1 from close range
John McGinn (on for Morgan Rogers, 83’) – N/A – Returning t the side after several weeks on the sidelines out injured, McGinn did little of note but still delighted the away end as he put the captain’s armband back on.
Emi Buendia (on for Jacob Ramsey, 83’) – N/A
In other Aston Villa news, Bryan King has backed the Villans to beat Manchester City to a brand-new £60million signing.
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