Credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Sun 5 April 2026 8:10, UK

Joe Gauci won’t have done himself any favours at Aston Villa after conceding seven as Port Vale lost to Chelsea on Saturday.

The Australian international completed a loan switch to the League One side in the summer and hasn’t truly covered himself in glory.

He was afforded a massive chance to prove his worth as the Valiants travelled to Stamford Bridge for an FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

Things certainly didn’t go as hoped for Jon Brady’s side in the 7-0 loss, and they were sent packing after a historic run in the competition.

Aston Villa will have had an eye on Gauci against Chelsea, but won’t have much of a silver lining to look at for their loanee keeper.

Joe Gauci concedes seven for Port Vale vs Chelsea

The 25-year-old keeper was a surprise signing for the Villans back in January 2024 as he made the switch from Adelaide United.

He has only gone on to make two appearances in B6, while already departing on two separate loan spells away from the West Midlands.

The Australian now finds himself at Vale Park, where he has had a mixed campaign as his side fights at the bottom of League One.

The FA Cup has provided them with respite, but facing Chelsea with a place at Wembley on the line certainly didn’t go to plan.

Gauci started and conceded seven, but was still able to make five saves while facing 4.95 worth of expected goals on the night.

He also acted as a sweeper once, while coming forward to chip in with two punches, four recoveries and three clearances.

Gauci will want to prove a point to Aston Villa, but there is one factor that will raise concern for Unai Emery and Co. after what happened at Stamford Bridge.

Gauci presence to leave Aston Villa deeply concerned

He may have made five saves in front of the 38,375 fans inside Stamford Bridge, but that doesn’t mean much if you concede seven.

That was always going to be a possibility when a struggling fourth-tier side faces a Premier League side in desperate need of a positive result.

One thing Gauci had to do was show that he could work under pressure if he were to prove that he could succeed at Bodymoor Heath.

He certainly didn’t do that with the ball at his feet, completing just eight of his 27 passes with an accuracy of just 30 per cent.

That wasn’t made better by his 22 per cent long ball success rate, which just won’t sit well with Emery, who demands a lot from his keeper with the ball at their feet.

The defeat in West London could prove to be the end of the road for Gauci at Villa Park, as his bizarre move to B6 looks increasingly more strange.