Morgan Rogers immense as 4/10 stinks out the London Stadium – Aston Villa player ratings vs West Ham
Aston Villa came back to beat West Ham 3-2 in a thriller on Sunday afternoon.
Unai Emery did not name Evann Guessand in the Villa starting line-up at the London Stadium, given his poor showing in the Europa League win over Basel in midweek.
It looked like he may have regretted that as the hosts took a 2-1 lead into the break, but Morgan Rogers got the Villans back into the clash.
The reigning PFA Young Player of the Season then produced a moment of magic that turned out to be the decisive goal.
Morgan Rogers shows class as Aston Villa scrape victory
Rogers is arguably Villa’s key man when he is on form, and they needed him to shine after a dismal first-half showing all around.
The 23-year-old did not disappoint, as he stepped up to level proceedings with a goal that Emery’s side desperately needed.
He notched his fourth Premier League goal of the campaign, with a close-range effort that ended up in the bottom-left corner.
The Villans’ star was immense, and showed that class with an absolutely stunning effort that put his side in front for his fifth league strike of the season.
The England ace picked the ball up from range and released a strike that Alphonse Areola could do nothing about to give his side all three points.
He almost notched a hat-trick with an 89th-minute effort that went just wide, which would have summed up a majestic display.
Amadou Onana dismal despite Villa win
Amadou Onana had an afternoon to forget for Villa, as his sloppiness was a key part in their struggles at the London Stadium.
The Belgian midfielder is brilliant when he is on form, but he was not at that level and was replaced in the 64th minute, as a result.
Onana lost possession 12 times, failed to play a single key pass and recorded an 87 per cent pass completion in the contest, in a dismal showing.
Defensively, he made one interception and won two tackles in a relatively quiet showing from the 24-year-old, when Emery needed him to have a bigger impact.
The former Everton midfielder needs to be more consistent if he is to keep his place in the team in the long term, as Villa eye success in multiple competitions.
How Villa players rated vs West Ham
Marco Bizot – 5
Matty Cash – 6
Ezri Konsa – 5
Victor Lindelof – 6
Ian Maatsen – 6 (off for Digne, 75)
Boubacar Kamara – 5
Amadou Onana – 4 (off for Malen, 64)
Youri Tielemans – 7
John McGinn – 6
Morgan Rogers – 9
Ollie Watkins – 6 (off for Buendia, 75)
Substitutes:
Donyell Malen – 6
Lucas Digne – 6
Emi Buendia – 6
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