Aston Villa’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest on Saturday was a stark reminder of the fine margins that exist in the Premier League. Despite dominating large periods of the match, Unai Emery’s side were ultimately undone by a combination of individual errors and a lack of clinical finishing.
Here, we assess the individual performances of the Aston Villa players, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses that defined their display.
Emi Martinez — 7
The Argentine goalkeeper was his usual reliable self, producing a string of impressive saves throughout the match. However, a faltering error for Nikola Milenkovic’s equalizer will have been a source of frustration for the World Cup winner.
Ezri Konsa — 7
The England international defender was solid throughout, winning six of his eight duels and making one block. However, he was ultimately unable to prevent Forest from snatching the three points.
Diego Carlos — 4
The Brazilian centre-back had a torrid time in the air, winning just 33% of his aerial duels. With Emery seemingly having found his preferred backline, it remains to be seen whether the Spanish manager will have a rethink after this defeat.
Pau Torres — 5
The 27-year-old defender was his usual calm and composed self on the ball, but struggled in the air, winning just 33% of his aerial duels.
Lucas Digne — 4
The French left-back was exposed defensively on several occasions, losing 75% of his ground duels. While he did provide some threatening crosses, his overall display was underwhelming.
Youri Tielemans — 7
The Belgian midfielder kept the team ticking with impressive passing accuracy, playing three passes into the final third and creating one chance. However, he failed to set the world alight in a match that cried out for creativity.
Boubacar Kamara — 6
The 25-year-old midfielder helped keep the defence solid, with four clearances, one interception, and five recoveries. However, he was ultimately unable to prevent Milenkovic from scoring the equalizer.
Matty Cash — 3
The Polish international’s experiment on the right wing continued, but he failed to make an impact, registering an xG of 0.03 and completing just 33% of his dribbles. His defensive frailties were also exposed, as he was caught offside and dispossessed once, leading to the winning goal for Forest.
Morgan Rogers — 4
The English midfielder’s display was underwhelming, with 77% passing accuracy, 33% successful dribbles, and a combined xG and xA of 0.08. A foul on Rogers should have resulted in a penalty for Villa, but it was not to be.
John McGinn — 8
The Scottish midfielder was Villa’s standout performer, setting up Jhon Duran’s header with a brilliant pass and creating four chances throughout the match.
Jhon Duran — 7
The Colombian striker found the back of the net once again with a brilliant header, despite not doing much in the 73 minutes he was on the pitch, completing just 50% of his passes.
Substitutes:
- Ollie Watkins — 4
- Amadou Onana — 5
- Ross Barkley — 5
- Ian Maatsen — 5
As Emery and his team reflect on this defeat, they will be aware that small margins can make all the difference in the Premier League. With the busy festive period approaching, Villa will need to regroup and refocus if they are to get their season back on track.