Aston Villa player ratings vs Brentford: Buendia shines in defeat

Aston Villa’s 2022 got off to the worst possible start as they lost 2-1 away at Brentford on Sunday afternoon.

It was a below par performance from the majority of those in the claret & blue and it was a defensive performance that had left manager Steven Gerrard reeling after the final whistle.

There were the odd positives to take such as Danny Ings finding himself back on the scoresheet again but as Gerrard himself put it post-match, it’s hard to ever take any plus points from a game after defeat.

Here’s how we rated the lads’ individual efforts on Sunday.

Emiliano Martinez - 7

Can’t be blamed for either goal and actually made a couple of really fine stops in the game. Unfortunate that the winner took a big deflection.

Matty Cash - 5

A poor day by Cash’s standards. Struggled to create anything going forward and was part of an all round poor defensive performance.

Ezri Konsa - 6

The better of the two centre-backs. Didn’t actually have much to do.

Kortney Hause - 4

Didn’t do himself many favours in terms of taking his chance and trying to dislodge Tyrone Mings of his starting spot. Let Yoane Wissa past him too easily for the opening goal and was sloppy in the lead up to the second. Also nearly scored a worldie of an own goal with a ridiculously over-hit backpass early on. A day to forget.

Matt Targett - 6

Energetic performance and was better defensively than Cash.

John McGinn - 5

A quiet day for the stand in captain. Didn’t influence the game nearly enough.

Douglas Luiz -5

As above.

Jacob Ramsey - 6

Never stopped running which has just become the norm for JJ at this point. Was the better of the three central players.

Bertrand Traore - 6.5

Was quietly impressed with Traore without him doing too much in terms of influencing the game. You have to remember that it was his first start since early September. When he’s up and running it’s clear to see he could be a difference maker for Villa.

Danny Ings - 7.5

His best performance in a Villa shirt and took his goal superbly. Will be disappointed he didn’t equalise immediately after Brentford had taken the lead but would be harsh to blame him for that. Looked far more comfortable in the middle of Traore and Buendia.

Emiliano Buendia - 8*

Another that takes the ‘his best performance in a Villa shirt’ award but you can add best Villa player on the day to the list.

Looked lively from minute one and his assist for Ings’ goal was world class. Needed the ball getting into him more but promising signs from Buendia who seems to be finally finding his feet in the west midlands.

Subs

Morgan Sanson - 5

Didn’t do enough following his introduction. Another you expected more from when the team needed him.

Trezeguet - N/A

Wouldn’t normally comment on a player that had a 10 minute cameo but that dive in stoppage time to try and win a penalty was special and not for good reason. There’s VAR now, Trez. Less of that please.

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Hause, Targett, Ramsey (69’ Sanson), McGinn, Luiz; Traore (80’ Trezeguet), Ings, Buendia

Unused subs: Steer (GK), Iroegbunam, El Ghazi, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwuemeka, Feeney

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