Unai Emery will frustrate Aston Villa fans further after announcement vs Fulham
Aston Villa are still in search of their first Premier League win of the season as they host Fulham.
Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans and Ross Barkley are still unavailable for the Sunday clash, which is being televised on Sky Sports.
Unai Emery is under pressure at Aston Villa, with his side sitting third bottom on just two points going into their seventh game of the season on 28 September.
With Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins both below par against Bologna in midweek, Unai Emery may have been forced to shuffle things around in attack.
Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins start vs Fulham
Rogers’ performances for Aston Villa haven’t been up to scratch in recent weeks, with summer transfer speculation appearing to affect him.
The forward started the game against Bologna in midweek, but was largely ineffective again.
Aston Villa fans have been expecting Harvey Elliott to take his place in the side after he looked bright in his opening few games in the Midlands.
- Rogers was applauded in the 88th minute for completing a pass against Bologna
- Both he and Watkins are yet to score or assist this season
- The Villans are the lowest scorers in the top-flight with one goal scored
Emery has decided to stick with Rogers for the game against Fulham, in an ultra-attacking lineup.
He is joined by Watkins up front, with Elliott and Evann Guessand also operating behind the striker.
Emi Martinez has returned to the side, and it’s as you were in defence, with Lucas Digne and Matty Cash either side of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.
Lamare Bogarde partners with John McGinn in defence as an extra layer of protection for the backline, with Boubacar Kamara struggling on the bench, it seems.
- Read more: Unai Emery must accept Aston Villa fate vs Fulham now if horrible reveal is anything to go by
Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho deserved starts vs Fulham
The Villans have lacked creativity up front so far this season, with Rogers and Watkins not the clinical duo they once were.
Jadon Sancho has looked lively for Aston Villa in his limited spells from the bench and has been deserving of an opportunity from the start to impress in claret and blue.
The winger has had to be bedded in at Villa Park, given that he didn’t have a preseason with Manchester United, but he now looks ready to be thrown into the deep end, not that Emery agrees.
Equally, Elliott has impressed, and with Watkins failing to convert from the penalty spot, it could open the door for someone else to make an impression in attack.
Watkins and Rogers should have been dropped for the pair, with Elliott possibly even operating as a number nine rather than in behind the striker.
It wasn’t to be with only the Liverpool loanee starting, but let’s hope that works out for the best.
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