Aston Villa will play in the Europa Conference next season after victory over Brighton & Hove Albion sealed seventh place at a rocking Villa Park on Sunday.
Let’s hear the fans’ post-match thoughts about the players’ individual performances.
EMILIANO MARTÍNEZ – 8
Martinez duplicated his World Cup Final match-saving save to deny Undav a equalising goal; didn’t have a chance for Undav’s close-range goal.
Addressing the jubilant fans after the game Didu said “We wanted it more than them – that’s the reality. We wanted to be in Europe and this club deserves to be in Europe – we’re going to try for Champions League soon”
– Ryan Mckeown
MATTY CASH – 7.5
“Fantastic display both offensively and defensively. I know he would’ve been happy to see Mitoma not in the starting 11 but there was no let up with the challenge of Enciso. Brilliant energy to help smoother most of Brighton’s forward play and helped support our attack at every opportunity. All in all a good day at the office despite being the one who played Undev onside for their goal”.
– Gary Plaza
TYRONE MINGS – 8
“A colossal season from a colossal man. Unfortunately couldn’t finish off with a clean sheet after Brighton had the ball in the net twice, but his efforts to fight till the very end did not go unnoticed. A leader with and without the armband and the England recall was once again proven highly deserved”.
– Hannah Gowen
EZRI KONSA – 8
“Assured on the ball, never panicking even when, along with Emi and Mings, they tried to suck Brighton in from goal kicks. Equally assured off it, again along with Mings, ensuring the offside line was kept unbelievably well (with the exception of Matty Cash’s toe for the Brighton goal. Seemed to relish the Brighton runs behind almost as much as he did casting Ferguson aside in the second half after a brief scuffle. Wins like today are built on Konsa and Mings”.
– Ivan McDouall
LUCAS DIGNE – 8
“There are rumours to suggest that this was potentially Digne’s last game for the club. I for one hope these are just rumours as he is such a great player. It would’ve been easy for him to become complacent after losing his place to Moreno but he has been nothing short of superb. Fantastic display for the entire 90 minutes. Buonanotte never had a look in, he never caused any issues and struggled against Digne all afternoon. So unlucky not to score when he saw his free kick sail agonisingly wide with the keeper routed to the spot”.
– Gary Plaza
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DOUGLAS LUIZ – 8
“Raised the roof of our grand stadium as the club’s Player and Players’ Player of the season opened the scoring. Another all-action performance in the heart of Villa’s midfielder from Brazilian; technically aesthetically pleasing on the eye and oozing class with every touch of the ball”.
“What a player”!
– Ryan Mckeown
JACOB RAMSAY – 9.5
Ramsey will be an England regular before the end of the year and even Gareth Southgate cannot prevent it. As expected he was the drive in midfield moving the team up the field at every opportunity. Rewarded early on when his cut back found Luiz to slot the ball home. His half got better following brilliant work from McGinn and an inch perfect ball from Bailey. He found himself closing in on goal when he unselfishly squared for Ollie to tap home. The icing on the cake would’ve been a first birthday goal for a Villa player since Joachim in 1997. However he somehow managed to divert Bailey’s cross over the bar from a few yards out. This team needs building around him.
– Gary Plaza
JOHN MCGINN – 8.5
Our captains recent form has been electric, with the Scotsman’s control and ferocity in the midfield reminiscent, and perhaps even better, than his best spells at the club in the early days. John fought hard in what was a fast-paced and high-stakes game, and his efforts to hold the ball in the corner in the dying moments took us into Europe.
– Hannah Gowen
BOUBACAR KAMARA – 8
Back fit and back to his best. Looked excellent pre-Emery so no great shock that he oozes class now. His reading of the game was exceptional today , successfully snuffing out danger on numerous occasions. When he won the ball back he ensured Villa kept it – neat and tidy passes combined with some exceptional raking balls (the one to Lucas Digne in the first half was something else).
– Ivan McDouall
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LEON BAILEY – 7
“When everyone else is playing so well, those that don’t manage to hit those heights clearly stand out. But Leon Bailey often looked a man transformed in the first half, battling and working in a manner we haven’t always witnessed. He also stuck the bar and played a part in Luiz’s opener. He feels like a man who can often not decide what to do and his pace sometimes seems non existent. The send off he received when substituted showed the valuable contribution was recognised”.
Emiliano Buendía: Buzzed around as he tends to do. Some nice footwork but failed to make any real impact – cut a frustrated figure even in this cameo, and indeed after the game.
– Ivan McDouall
OLLIE WATKINS – 8
Very pleased to see Watkins reach the 15 goal mark in what has been a bit of a rollercoaster season, with mangerial changes, long dry spells and periods of high-flying goal scoring. Watkins again fought incredibly hard and ran his socks off, and his goal to double the advantage was ultimately the difference. A massive part of our success this season and I look forward to seeing him score on a Thursday night in Europe.
– Hannah Gowen
Subs not used: Diego Carlos, Traoré, Chambers, Ashley Young, Olsen, Dendoncker, Revan, Patterson
THE OPPOSITION
Brighton: Steele, Veltman (Estupiñán 45′), Webster (van Hecke 65′), Colwill, Groß, Buonanotte, Ayari (Caicedo 45′), Mac Allister, Enciso (Mitoma 65′), Undav (Hinshelwood 89′), Ferguson
Subs: Dunk, Welbeck, Mitoma, Caicedo, Gilmour, van Hecke, Estupiñán, McGill, Hinshelwood
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One Response
Hi Ryan, Yes a great win, and now European football beckons ! I thouroughly enjoyed this podcast, has I have all your others, so yes, keep the good work up fellow Villa finatic. Your player scoring was spot on i’d say. Matty Cash seemed to struggle at times, and that was the only time i feared they would get in when BHA attacked on that wing, and Cash needed to do a job. I know he’s had time out, but im not so sure his fitness is up to the others, hence why to me he seems a little short of pace more than anything else? Having said that, Bailey, has we know can be electric one minute, and next he can be so frustrating ! Come next season, I’d say both are walking the tightrope on whether they go or stay, time will tell I guess? Finally agree on Ramsey on being the best player out there on the day. He wanted that win (like we all did) and did his upmost to make it happen…..Thankfully it did, and you have to feel proud of Unai Emery for what he’s not only done in such a small amount of time, but for making us a must better team overall. Yes we had the same players, but he instilled in each and every one the will to win games and to be stronger in their play, the result winning a lot more games and thankfully success this season.
We have lots to look forward to, new arrivals, who will make us even stronger, and a pre-season under Unai Emery, and the 23/24 season that has always isnt to far away. And lets not forget our European travels, and facing new opposition, don’t know about you Ryan, but I can’t wait, and get this, I’m pretty sure our gaffer will have has up for competeing well, and who knows just how good our apprerances playing competative European football overseas will take us eh?
Finally, thaks for all your good work, found it very enjoyable, and looking forward to plenty more which will come I’m sure in due course….UTV.
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