Aston Villa opened their 2022/23 Premier League campaign with a 2-0 defeat against AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium.
Jefferson Lerma scored inside the first two minutes to give the Cherries the perfect start and with 80 minutes remaining, Kieffer Moore rose highest at the back post to condemn the Villans to defeat.
Let’s hear the fans post-match thoughts about the players’ individual performances.
EMI MARTINEZ – 5
Couldnβt do much for the first goal as it was fired through an array of bodies. Beaten again for the second goal.
– Hannah Gowen
MATTY CASH – 5
The best of a bad bunch. Cash received a lot of the ball offensively out wide yet for what was a flawed ageing strategy by Aston Villa, the fullbackβs relentless crosses resulted in absolutely nothing. 82.3% pass accuracy and 8/9 ground duels won, Cash was a brighter light in what was a sloppy collective performance.
– Liam Bryan
EZRI KONSA – 5
Struggled with Bournemouthβs early energy and positive approach and never looked fully comfortable. Positionally looked OK but this was not the performance he would have hoped for in the first attempt to cement a starting spot. Didnβt seem able to confidently organise those around him.
– Ivan McDouall
DIEGO CARLOS – 5
Not the greatest welcome to the premier league. Really think team selection let him down today. He needed the ever vocal Mings in his ear today. Gave away possession 11 times in first half alone which was just part of the 80 the team managed in the opening 45!
He will naturally improve game by game but i fully expect Mings to partner him against Everton next Saturday.
– Gary Plaza
LUCAS DIGNE – 4
Off the pitch for the first goal – depending on who you believe for a bloody nose or for wearing jewellery. Hopefully not the latter. Consistently Villaβs outlet but continually poor crosses until very near the end. He wasnβt alone in this – neither was he alone in consistently losing possession.
β Ivan McDouall
BOUBARCAR KAMARA – 5
Not a stand out debut for Kamara. He looked relatively confident but didnβt really grow into the game until the second half, at which point he started to put a few more tackles in. Will need to get used to the fast paced physicality of the league.
β Hannah Gowen
JACOB RAMSEY – 4
A shadow of last seasonβs explosive, positively-impacting Jacob Ramsey. The Englishman was part of a midfield three that was exposed throughout the encounter due to Bournemouthβs immense physicality. Like many of Gerrardβs players, was passive and predictable in possession seeing only 45 minutes of the game, and replaced by Emi BuendΓa at halftime.
β Liam Bryan
JOHN MCGINN – 4
I really hope this was just an off day for our new captain. He was poor from the start and never really got the team going. Poor free kick deliveries and poor shooting when well placed just added to a miserable day down south. His record continues with is losing every time he has worn the armband.
– Gary Plaza
PHILLIPE COUTINHO – 4
Embarrassing. A total of 60 touches for his 81 minutes on the field. For a player with an immense reputation in the world of football, Coutinho mostly emulated a Madame Tussaudβs model out wide, stationary and predictable. Need to see a positive reaction against Everton next Saturday.
β Liam Bryan
LEON BAILEY – 5
He tried. Often Villaβs brightest spark there was still a worrying lack of incisive impact. Seemed to win endless corners and opportunities for colleagues to get the ball in the box. And we know what happened with those. Deserved to start and should keep his place but needs to impact more.
β Ivan McDouall
DANNY INGS – 4
Had a few half chances early doors but otherwise had a very quiet game. Failed to really trouble Bournemouthβs back line and got booked for a challenge early on. Subbed in the second half when he was clearly getting nowhere.
β Hannah Gowen
SUBS
BUENDIA – 4
on for Ramsey, 46 minutes – Not even the Argentinian could rescue Aston Villa from the pits of the Vitality Stadium. 35 touches in the second half perfectly highlights how Parkerβs Cherries impressively restricted Villaβs creative talents for the entire duration of the game.
WATKINS – 4
on for Ings, 66 minutes – Feels harsh to rate so low but similarly no player shone this afternoon. In his 30 minute cameo Ollie barely got a sniff and failed to make an impact.
LUIZ – 5
on for Kamara, 82 minutes – A very short cameo for Dougie who, after a decent pre-season, made the bench. A βfineβ appearance, made one or two interceptions. Nothing outstanding
ARCHER – N/A
on for Coutinho, 82 minutes – Was substituted onto the field so late into the game that you canβt give him any form of rating. He was isolated like both Ings and Watkins in the final third with no support from the additional attacking talents. For a promising talent with a massive future in football, today was not his day, a phrase that could be used for the majority of those who represented Aston Villa.
Subs not used | Robin Olsen, Ludwig Augstinsson, Tyrone Mings, Calum Chambers, Ashley Young.
THE SOCIAL HUB | PLAYER RATER
Itβs your chance to rate the playersβ performances. (Tap the image to be directed to the Player Rater).
GOALS
BOURNEMOUTH
Lerma (3), Moore (81).
ASTON VILLA
N/A
OPPOSTION
Bournemouth | Travers; Mepham, Lerma, Kelly; Smith, Billing, Pearson (Cook, 71), Tavernier (Christie, 86), Zemura; Moore, Solanke (Stanislas, 90).
Subs not used | Dennis (gk), Marcondes, Stacey, Dembele, Hill, Anthony.
UTV PODCAST HQ
SUBSCRIBE
Enjoying this article – then please subscribe to UTVPODCAST | An Aston Villa Blog to help us grow and support the site; you’ll receive instant email notifications of all released article.
Plus, it’s completely free.
VILLA BELLAS
Villa Bellas is the Official AVFC Womenβs Network. In an unequal and often unrelenting world we work to break down barriers for equality.
Our network aims to raise the voice of women and non-binary people at @AVFCOfficial We support inclusion & diversity and with our allies, we can challenge sexism and misogyny, creating a safe and welcoming environment for the fans in the stands and the women on the pitch.
Let’s celebrate ourselves and champion each other while having fun doing it!
Twitter: @villabellas Instagram: @villa.bellas
DONATE
UTVPODCAST | An Aston Villa Blogβ is accepting small donations, which will help to support the site’s ongoing evolution.
Thank you so much for your support.
FACEBOOK | UTV PODCAST AN ASTON VILLA BLOG
Tap the icon button to join our Facebook page for instant notifications of all the website releases.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook and Twitter readers, click the respective icon below to follow our utvpodcast social media
2022/23 Aston Villa Home Shirt – Shop Now
