Aston Villa player ratings vs Chelsea: Villa struggle in all areas in defeat

Aston Villa’s 2021 ended in defeat as they lost 3-1 against Chelsea at Villa Park.

Despite starting brightly and taking the lead through a Reece James own goal - Villa were second best for the majority and were limited to just one shot on target in the 90 minutes.

The defence that had remained solid in recent weeks were unusually poor and with the manager watching on from home due to coronavirus - the team itself looked disjointed.

Still, Villa have only tasted defeat three times under Steven Gerrard and those losses have come against the Premier League’s current top three.

Fine margins but plenty of areas to improve for the claret & blue.

Emiliano Martinez - 6.5

A consistent as always performance from the Argentine. Couldn’t do anything with either penalty from Jorginho and was let down by his defence for the Lukaku header. Made a great save to deny Callum Hudson-Odoi at 2-1.

Matty Cash - 4

The right-back’s worst performance of the season. He’s one of Villa’s more consistent performers and one game won’t alter that but the challenge for the penalty was reckless and came at a really poor time. Had a real torrid time against Hudson-Odoi, too.

Tyrone Mings - 5

Mings has been really solid under Gerrard but had one of his bad days on Boxing Day. He let Lukaku bully him for Chelsea’s second and seemed shaky for the remainder of the second-half following that.

Ezri Konsa - 6

Gave away the penalty that killed the game in stoppage time but was a challenge he had no choice but to make. Dealt with the presence of Lukaku better than his partner.

Matt Targett - 7*

Targett has had a lot of critics this season but has improved vastly under Gerrard and continued that form despite defeat against Chelsea. Provided the fizzing cross that resulted in James heading into his own net and was probably Villa’s best player on the day.

Douglas Luiz - 6

Didn’t do a lot wrong but didn’t do a lot right either. Need more from that position.

Morgan Sanson - 6

It was a decent performance in truth from someone that was making his first Premier League start of the season. Lasted nearly 80 minutes and showed the odd glimpse here and there.

Jacob Ramsey - 6.5

A lot of energy as always from Ramsey. Not a lot went his way but you can never fault his effort - best of the three in the middle.

Emi Buendia - 5.5

Has an eye for a pass that most couldn’t see and was able to find a couple of them today. Still not doing it enough though and Villa needed more from him today.

Danny Ings - 5

Seemed isolated up top and not for the first time this season. Gerrard could really do with finding a way to get Ings more involved in games. Not working at the moment.

Ollie Watkins - 5

The effort and the press was there as it always is with Watkins but like the rest of the forwards - they simply didn’t do enough against Chelsea. One shot on target between them all in 90 minutes isn’t good enough.

Subs:

Carney Chukwuemeka - 5

Was asking a lot for him to change the game with 20 to go.

Bertrand Traore - 6

Looked really lively after a long lay off.

Anwar El Ghazi - N/A

Unused subs: Steer (GK), Davis, Iroegbunam, Trezeguet, Hause, Tuanzebe

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