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Aston Villa0 - 0Man Utd

sportsmole.co.uk, 6 October 2024, 15:35
Neither Aston Villa nor Manchester United could find the back of the net in Sunday's Premier League contest at Villa Park, with the two teams playing out a goalless draw.

Bruno Fernandes rattled the crossbar from a free kick in Man United's best chance of the match, while Jaden Philogene passed up an excellent opportunity to win it for Villa late on, with his goal-bound strike being blocked by Diogo Dalot.

Here, Sports Mole takes a close look at how each player performed in the Premier League fixture, which will unfortunately not be remembered as an all-time classic.

Aston Villa player ratings vs. Man United: Watkins struggles to make his mark

GOALKEEPER

Emiliano Martinez- 7/10

As usual, Martinez was there when needed, making a couple of smart saves to deny Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, while he was again a towering presence between the sticks.

DEFENCE

Matty Cash - 6/10

Defended well for large parts of the match, but there were times when he had space down the right and failed to take advantage. A frustrating afternoon for the right-back.

Ezri Konsa - 6/10

His game was cut short in the 11th minute due to a hamstring injury which he sustained in the early stages, and Villa will now need to assess the seriousness of the damage.

Pau Torres - 6/10

Currently being linked with a move to Man United, and he was again calm and composed in the middle of the Villa defence on Sunday, but he was not really tested for long spells.

Lucas Digne - 6/10

Struggled to offer much of an attacking threat for Villa, with the Frenchman finding it difficult to make his mark, but he was solid defensively before being withdrawn in the latter stages.

MIDFIELD

Ross Barkley - 6/10

Like a number of his teammates, found himself with the ball in dangerous areas time and time again, but his passing was not quite there this afternoon. A frustrating 90 minutes for the midfielder.

Youri Tielemans - 7/10

Probably the pick of the Villa midfielders on the afternoon, with a lot of the home side's good work involving Tielemans in some way, but he needed more movement from those ahead of him.

Morgan Rogers - 6/10

Showed glimpses of his obvious talent, with Man United finding it difficult to contain him when he broke through the lines, but Rogers' final ball was disappointing against the Red Devils.

ATTACK

Leon Bailey - 6/10

Found it difficult to get into the match for long stages, and it was not a surprise when he was replaced just past the hour, as Villa looked to make the breakthrough on home soil.

Ollie Watkins - 6/10

Had a couple of sighters, but it was an afternoon to forget for Watkins, as he found it difficult to make an impact. Was eventually joined in attack by Jhon Duran, but it was simply not his match.

Jaden Philogene - 6/10

Had a brilliant chance to win it for Villa in the final exchanges, but his close-range strike hit Dalot and dropped behind for a corner. Almost proved to be the hero for Unai Emery's side.

SUBSTITUTES

Diego Carlos - 6/10

Replaced Konsa in the early exchanges due to an injury for the centre-back, and he settled effortlessly into the contest, using his strength and power to escape a couple of dangerous situations.

Jhon Duran - 6/10

Was not a surprise when the super sub entered the field just past the hour, but this was a quiet cameo for the striker, who did not have an opportunity to continue his fine goalscoring start to the season.

Ian Maatsen - 6/10

Was introduced for Digne in the latter stages with a view to giving Villa more of an attacking threat from left-back, but he did not see much of the ball during his time on the field.

Man United player ratings vs. Aston Villa: Evans brilliant but Rashford subdued

GOALKEEPER

Andre Onana - 7/10

One of few Man United players who can be content with their performance level at this moment in time. Onana is now making smart saves and there is no sense of panic around him, which was the case for a long period.

DEFENCE

Noussair Mazraoui - 6/10

Was solid definitely in the opening half, but he again struggled to offer an attacking threat down the right. The defender was replaced at the interval with a suspected injury problem.

Harry Maguire - 7/10

Had a solid opening half of action at Villa Park, but he had to be replaced in the latter stages of the opening 45 minutes due to an injury which appeared to be related to his calf.

Jonny Evans - 8/10

Easily the man-of-the-match at Villa Park. Won two aerial duels and made four tackles, while he also boasted a pass success rate of 87% during an outstanding centre-back performance.

Diogo Dalot - 6/10

Again struggled at left-back for long spells of the match, but the Portugal international earned his side a point in the latter stages by making a brilliant block to deny Philogene.

MIDFIELD

Bruno Fernandes - 6/10

Rattled the crossbar with a brilliant free kick in the second period, but there is no getting away from the fact that the Man United captain is struggling to get going this season.

Kobbie Mainoo - 6/10

Passed a late fitness test to start in the middle after missing out against Porto, and the midfielder was calm and composed in possession before being substituted in the latter stages.

Christian Eriksen - 7/10

Man United look a better side when Eriksen is in midfield, as his use of the ball is excellent, and he was the pick of the away side's midfielders at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon.

ATTACK

Alejandro Garnacho - 6/10

Always a willing runner and helped out defensively at Villa Park, but he wasted some dangerous attacking situations, including late on when the Red Devils were threatening a late breakthrough.

Rasmus Hojlund - 6/10

Still working his way back from the muscular problem that kept him out early in the season; there were some positive signs from the Denmark international, but he did not offer much of a goal threat at Villa Park.

Marcus Rashford - 6/10

Was bright in the first half of action and brought a smart save from Martinez, but he struggled in the second half and was fortunate not to be sent off for two yellow cards before being substituted.

SUBSTITUTES

Matthijs de Ligt - 6/10

Replaced Maguire at the interval and picked up where his teammate left off. Was strong in the tackle, but a late slip almost saw Man United concede, only for Dalot to come to his rescue.

Victor Lindelof - 6/10

Slotted in at right-back on his first appearance of the season, and the Sweden international was solid enough.

Joshua Zirkzee - 5/10

Gave the ball away far too easily when Man United were doing their best to keep it. Scored on his debut against Fulham but has found it difficult to have an impact since that night.

Antony - 6/10

Had a decent impact off the bench against Porto on Thursday and was introduced again here, but the Brazilian did not see much of the ball down the right.

Casemiro - 6/10

Replaced Mainoo for the final five minutes and showed his passing range in the latter stages.

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