[ad_1]
The ten-man Aston Villa posted their best start to a Premier League season after a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.
In Dean Smith’s 100th place in charge of the club, it was Bertrand Traore who opened the scoring within five minutes of converting Ollie Watkins’ rebound off Vicente Guaita.
Traore, who scored his second in as many games, then hit the outside of the post after cutting down the right before launching toward goal.
Captain Jack Grealish, in his 200th appearance at Villa, soon formed his first shot, but Guaita saved well with his legs. Villa, meanwhile, had his heart in his mouth just before half an hour after the VAR reviewed Matty Cash’s sweeping challenge of Patrick van Aanholt several times. Referee Anthony Taylor then looked at himself on his courtside monitor before correctly rejecting the claim for a penalty.
Ref Taylor, however, kept busy after that, awarding Tyrone Mings and Wilfried Zaha yellow cards for reaching the half. A few seconds later, as the first half came to a close, Mings allowed a long ball to bounce and that allowed Zaha to catch it before the Englishman dragged the Palace forward, resulting in his second yellow card.
Video not available
Just before the break, Smith brought in Ezri Konsa, who was returning from illness, to replace striker Traore as Villa moved into a 4-4-1 formation.
And it was Villa who landed his second second just past the hour mark with Anwar El Ghazi crossing well for Watkins, only for the selfless striker to direct his effort toward the crossbar before the impressive Kortney Hause nodded the rebound. .
Villa didn’t finish there, however, as El Ghazi scored his fourth in as many games, launching his effort into the left corner, through the post, to convert Watkins’ cut in 76 minutes.
The complete 3-0 victory is Villa’s eighth in 13 games played this season as they initially rose to sixth in the Premier League before facing Chelsea on Monday, the team directly above them in the table.
This is how we rate Smith’s players after a good afternoon of work in B6 …
Emiliano Martinez – 7.5
He saved very well just seconds to deny Wilfried Zaha after the Palace ace ran past Tyrone Mings, who was unable to control a fumble. He showed soft hands shortly after to claim an RBI in the face of his goal. He kicked well from his hands and started attacking players like Jack Grealish. You had to turn it on to claim Milivojevic’s deflected shot late in the first half. He didn’t have much to do in the second half, but he made a good claim to crosses once again when he scored his eighth clean sheet of the season. Could a Premier League golden glove be at stake?
Cash Matty – 8
Against Eberechi, Eze went down Palace’s left side and held his ground. Cash was left sweating after a five-minute call from the VAR after his big challenge on van Aanholt which, rightly, was not awarded a penalty. Cash’s form continued into the second half and he stayed on throughout, such was the praise that Martinez threw on his way behind him.
Kortney House – 8.5
He won his first header after Palace told Christian Bentke early on. He scored Villa’s crucial second after reacting quicker to nod to Watkins’ effort hitting the crossbar. There are no problems with Hause today, who won almost everything. The central defender has enjoyed a good run in the absence of Ezri Konsa. He will have Mings’ starting jersey suspended for Chelsea and I would not bet against Hause keeping him out from now on given his form.
Tyrone Mings – 4
His heart was in his mouth just a minute after Zaha showed the center back a clean pair of heels to score the goal that was well saved by Martinez. He made some reckless attempts to punt early on and was booked for challenging Wilfried Zaha five minutes before half-time. Mings was then sent off for knocking Zaha down once more after failing to deal with a long ball forward. Mings was poor from the beginning today. The center-back will miss the trip to Chelsea on Monday.
Matt Targett – 8
One of Villa’s best players in the first half, evident when he beat Benteke in midair to initiate Villa’s first goal. He won all the tackles and showed a bit of flair with a comeback drag to pass Zaha on the touchline. He continued his form in the second half and was excellent against the fast wingers of the Palace. His improvement has been brilliant and he is rightly Villa’s fittest player at the moment.
Douglas Luiz – 7
Clean and tidy in the heart of Villa’s midfield. I did not see the Brazilian lose the ball as he settled very well in the procedure. He kept Villa going and was always well positioned to take advantage of loose balls. Marshalled Eze well when Palace changed his lineup. A generally comfortable performance from Dougie.
John McGinn – 8
He’s back to his best and seems to have the bite between his teeth now. Dressed as a turkey at Bodymoor on Christmas Day, but on St. Stephen’s Day, it was the opposite. He won balls for fun in the middle of the park and started to start his teammates. He threw a few well-weighted balls to Villa’s wings and wings. It faded a bit in the second half when Villa stepped down on the gas as three goals were put forward. A vital cog in midfield and he looks like the fittest he’s been in a long time.
Bertrand traore – 7
He scored his second in as many games, gobbling up the rebound to hit Guaita with his weaker right foot. He hit the post a bit later, cutting inward for a sweet hit, only for the bullet to come off Palace’s post. He enjoyed a bright and menacing first half, but was euthanized after Mings saw red and was replaced by Ezri Konsa. Yet another upbeat performance from Traore, who has picked up some form now. Excellent.
Jack Grealish – 7
Playing in his 10th most favored position in his 200th appearance with Villa. He didn’t have an inspiring first 45, such have been his ridiculously high standards this season. He had a chance with the southpaw well stopped by Guaita after Traore slipped him. An unusually calm game for the patron. However, he did what was necessary and always carried a threat in the counterattack.
Anwar El Ghazi – 8.5
He showed some nice touches on the left side of Villa and worked well with Targett. He came close to improving his recent scoring with a couple of efforts. He improved in the second half and finally got his goal that he deserved, and what a blow it was when he returned Watkins’s cut to the upper left corner for his fourth goal in four games. Another stylish show of the Dutchman who’s back in shape.
Ollie Watkins – 9 *
Villa’s selfless workhorse stung Guaita’s hands with his powerful punch that led Traore to finish off the rebound for Villa’s starter. In charge of occupying the Palace centrals, Scott Dann and Cheikhou Kouyate, and he did well. He saw his head effort hit the crossbar as Hause nodded for Villa’s second. He was close to his first with 15 to go, only for Kouyate to block Grealish’s assist well. Watkins screamed in frustration after that as he sought his first goal in seven games against Chelsea below. He hit the post late in which he rubbed salt on the wounds once more. You can’t help but feel sorry for the striker right now who was excellent today. It did not stop.
UNUSED SUBS: Heaton, Taylor, Hourihane, Nakamba, Guilbert, Davis.
Ezri Konsa (replaces Traore, 45 minutes) – 7
He recovered calmly after his bout of illness when he replaced Traore after Mings’ expulsion.
Ahmed Elmohamady (enters El Ghazi, 86 minutes) – 6
He came in for a late cameo to play ahead of Cash in right midfield.
Jacob Ramsey (replaces Douglas Luiz, 90 minutes) – N / A
CRYSTAL PALACE: Guaita; Ward, Kouyate, Dann, van Aanholt; Schlupp (Townsend, 82), Milivojevic (Ridewald, 67), McArthur (Batshuayi, 75), Eze; Zaha, Benteke.
SUBS: Butland, Tomkins, Ayew, Clyne, McCarthy, Mitchell.
GOALS: Traore (5), Hause (66), El Ghazi (76).
OFF: Mings (second yellow, 45).
THE REFERENCE: Anthony Taylor.
WHERE: Craig Pawson.
NEXT FOR VILLA: Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday, December 28; 17.30 hours of departure.
[ad_2]
