Ray Parlour defends Aston Villa fans with empty seats spotted vs Bologna – ‘times are hard’
Aston Villa’s form has dropped off a cliff this season after a difficult summer transfer window.
The Villans had been expected to compete for the European places again, but have scored just three goals in all competitions so far this season.
Their poor form has prompted a change, with Monchi departing Aston Villa after more than two years in the Midlands.
However, performances and missing out on Champions League football have affected attendances in recent weeks, with empty seats spotted at Villa Park for the clash with Bologna.
Ray Parlour reacts as empty seats seen at Villa Park
Aston Villa were better in the 1-0 win over Bologna, but relied on a long-range strike from John McGinn to wrap up an all-important victory.
Before the game, Aston Villa tickets were listed for the game against Bologna at a reduced price of £31 by third-party sellers.
| Price zone 2 – Europa League group stage | Season ticket Holder | Non-season ticket holder |
| Adult | £61 | £71 |
| Under 21 | £55 | £60 |
| Over 66 | £55 | £60 |
Empty seats for a European night are rare, but it is a reflection of the scary prices charged in football and how poorly the Villans are performing.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, ex-Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour was sympathetic with Aston Villa fans.
He said, “Times are hard, people have got to remember that there are lots of games and people can’t afford it and they might pick and choose their games.
“They go, we’ll go to a Premier League game, but we haven’t got money for midweek. I don’t know the situation with certain people. You are always going to get empty seats for midweek games.”
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Tickets still available for Aston Villa vs Fulham
Unai Emery’s side looks set to play in front of a patchy crowd at Villa Park against Fulham.
Despite Aston Villa’s more promising performance against Bologna, supporters still haven’t been convinced to purchase tickets, with thousands available for Sunday’s game.
4,000 tickets are still available via third-party sellers for prices between just £39 and £100 for the televised match-up.
The lack of interest will concern the Villa board, who have consistently protected their ticket prices with claims that it helps towards making summer signings.
Should the trends on and off the pitch continue, they will be forced to make even bigger changes after a poor start to the season.
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