Aston Villa cruised to a 4-0 victory over Everton on their Premier League return to Villa Park on Sunday afternoon. Making amends for the 5-1 defeat at Newcastle United on the opening weekend, Unai Emery’s side controlled proceedings from start to finish and probably should have won by a larger margin. Skipper John McGinn broke the deadlock before goals flooded in from Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran, soaring the Villans into the top half of the Premier League.
After a frantic start that saw Emery’s side win two corners in the opening 90 seconds, proceedings calmed at Villa Park with the men in claret and blue asserting early control in possession. The Villans looked assured and patient on the ball, creating a threat on the half-turn rather than resorting to long passes. The approach paid off in the 18th minute as John McGinn sent the crowd into raptures with the first home game of the campaign.
Record signing Moussa Diaby drove through the centre, laid it off to Leon Bailey on the byline and the Jamaican cut it back across to McGinn, who finished first-time into the roof of the net. It all began with some brilliant one-touch passing in the centre between Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz before the latter burst forward to play in Diaby.
It wasn’t long until the Villans made it two to the good as Luiz scored a 24th-minute penalty. Bailey, involved again, nodded the ball to Watkins and Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford clattered the striker. Despite Watkins’ tendency to take spot kicks, Luiz was the man to claim responsibility and he scored emphatically, putting it hard and low to the right.
Emery’s side, already 2-0 up, didn’t show any sign of letting off as the clock approached 30 – and beyond. Bailey caused yet more issues on the right flank as he cut it back to Luiz, who tapped it back to Diaby. The Frenchman managed to get a shot off but couldn’t get enough power behind the ball as Pickford saved. Villa then had another penalty shout as Lucas Digne was bundled over in the area by James Tarkowski, but referee Anthony Taylor waved away the appeals.
Diaby very nearly took the roof off Villa Park just a few minutes later as he struck a looping Digne cross on the volley from around 15 yards. Hitting first-time, the winger connected strongly but Pickford reacted rapidly to direct the ball onto the right post with a strong left glove. Everton were forced to take off Dominic Calvert-Lewin just 38 minutes into his long-awaited return to the starting XI but his replacement, Arnaut Danjuma, was the first Toffees player to have a big chance as he made a clever run behind and stung the gloves of Emiliano Martinez.
It was merely a continuation of the momentum after the half-time interval as the Villans made it 3-0 just five minutes into the second period. Bailey, who had been everywhere in the first 45, reacted quickest when Michael Keane failed to clear away a Digne long throw and rifled the ball between the legs of Pickford. The 26-year-old earned a huge cheer from the Villa Park faithful as he veered away in celebration; a sense of relief after a tricky few months of poor form for the winger.
That joy soon turned to dejection, however, as Bailey went down and stayed on the ground after a heavy challenge from Tarkowski in the penalty area. The man of the match up until that point, he was forced off in the 64th minute and replaced by Philippe Coutinho. Diaby and Luiz also made way as Youri Tielemans and Diego Carlos entered the field for the final half an hour. Coutinho was the first of the Villa substitutes to get involved as he found space on the edge of the Everton box, but his shot was tame and saved easily by Pickford.
Just as you thought the game was slowing down and was going to finish at 3-0, 19-year-old striker Jhon Duran came on for Watkins and very much had other ideas. The Colombian’s very first touch of the ball was to dispossess Toffees defender Keane and he ran through with plenty of time to finish cooly past Pickford for his first goal in claret and blue. Duran displayed exceptional anticipation and determination to win possession and reaped the rewards to put the game beyond doubt.
It was a well-earned victory for the Villans as they claimed their first three points of the new campaign but an injury to Coutinho brought a late downer on the afternoon. The Brazilian, trying to dart away from an Amadou Onana tackle, pulled up and fell to the ground immediately, holding what look to be his hamstring. It took about five minutes for Coutinho to go around the perimeter of the pitch as he walked off incredibly gingerly, aided by the medical staff.
Attendance: 41,694.
1. Emiliano Martinez - 8
Outstanding double save to deny Maupay on the volley and follow-up from a corner. Also a good save down to his left to deny Danjuma at the near post before the break. Was almost like an eleventh outfield player with his splendid distribution.
2. Matty Cash - 7
Defended resiliently to halt the threat of Danjuma, Young and Iwobi. Moved to right midfield in the final 30 minutes and put in a few decent crosses.
3. Ezri Konsa - 7
At right centre back for the first 60 minutes and then at right-back thereafter, the Englishman didn’t put a foot wrong.
4. Pau Torres - 7
Not much to report and that’s a good thing in this case as the Spaniard was confident both in and out of possession. Has slotted in at left centre-back impeccably.