Aston Villa Player Ratings: Mixed Performances in Home Loss to 10-Man Brentford
John Townley, the Aston Villa correspondent, has delivered his player ratings following a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Brentford in the Premier League. Unai Emery's side fell to a narrow loss despite playing against 10 men for much of the match, with Tammy Abraham controversially denied a goal on his second debut for the club.
Match Overview: VAR Controversy and Missed Opportunities
The game took a dramatic turn in the first half when Brentford's Kevin Schade was sent off in the 42nd minute after kicking out at Matty Cash. Despite being a man down, Brentford took the lead just before half-time through Dango Ouattara, who capitalised on a poor clearance from Pau Torres to fire into the top corner.
In the second half, Villa pushed for an equaliser and thought they had found it early on when Tammy Abraham tapped in a rebound from Jadon Sancho's effort. However, VAR intervened to rule the goal out, deeming that the ball had gone out of play earlier in the move. Later, VAR also disallowed a chance when Leon Bailey attempted to keep the ball in play, adding to Villa's frustration.
Villa created several opportunities, with Matty Cash coming close in the 66th minute only to be denied by a strong save from Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Leon Bailey had a late chance to level the score but blazed his effort over the bar in added time. This defeat marks Villa's first loss at home to Brentford in the league in 11 previous encounters and their first consecutive home league defeats in nearly two years.
Player Ratings Analysis
John Townley awarded ratings primarily in the 5s and 6s, reflecting a lacklustre team performance. Key highlights include:
- Emi Martinez: Rated 6, beaten by Ouattara's well-taken goal but had little else to do.
- Matty Cash: Earned a 7 for his defensive work, frustrating Schade into a red card and making a key attacking chance.
- Ezri Konsa: Also rated 7, winning most of his duels and maintaining high passing accuracy.
- Pau Torres: Given a 5 after his clearance error led directly to Brentford's goal.
- Tammy Abraham: Scored a 6, impressing on his return with early chances and the disallowed goal, but unable to find the net.
- Substitutes: Leon Bailey received a 5 for his positive play but missed a crucial late opportunity, while other subs had limited impact.
Other players like Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Douglas Luiz, Jadon Sancho, Morgan Rogers, and Emi Buendia all received ratings of 5 or 6, indicating middling contributions across the pitch.
Context and Implications
This result leaves Aston Villa in third place in the Premier League, maintaining a five-point cushion over fourth-placed Manchester United. However, the loss highlights concerns about Villa's ability to break down resilient defences, especially at home. With new signings Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz starting, and Ollie Watkins absent due to injury, Emery will be looking for improvements in upcoming fixtures to sustain their top-four challenge.
The match underscored the impact of VAR decisions, which played a pivotal role in denying Villa a potential equaliser. As the season progresses, Villa will need to convert chances more effectively to avoid similar setbacks.
