We rate Roberto Di Matteo’s Aston Villa players against Newcastle United – including a defender who had a game to forget and a forward who needs a goal.
Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo and Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez
Aston Villa needed a late Aaron Tshibola goal from a corner to salvage a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at Villa Park.
However, after taking the lead and dominating the first half, Newcastle United will view this as two points dropped – as Villa’s players left the pitch relieved with their point against one of the league’s strongest teams.
Here’s how Aston Villa’s players rated – from a defender who had a game to forget, to a forward who just can’t score.
GK – Pierluigi Gollini (6)
Fine point-blank stop to deny Dwight Gayle in the first half, but there was little that the Italian goalkeeper could do about Elphick’s own goal.
CB – James Chester (5)
Looked much more comfortable when Roberto Di Matteo switched to a back four at half time. However, the damage was done by this point, and the first half showing of Chester, Elphick and Baker as a back three will need plenty of work before it is deployed again.
Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle celebrates after Aston Villa’s Tommy Elphick scored an own goal and their first
CB – Tommy Elphick (5)
Scorer of the game’s opener with an own goal to give Newcastle the lead in the 28th minute, followed ten minutes later by pondering on – and losing – the ball to provide Newcastle with an ultimately failed shot on goal.
CB – Nathan Baker (4)
Booked just before half time, the no-nonsense left-sided centre-back struggled with the attacking nature of Matt Ritchie and DeAndre Yedlin on Newcastle’s right hand side. Subbed at half time (for Aaron Tshibola (6) – whose only noticeable contribution before scoring the late equaliser was being booked for diving in the 79th minute) as Villa switched to a more familiar back four in the second 45.
RM – Albert Adomah (5)
Adomah’s pace and strength was not enough to impact on the game and the ex-Middlesbrough wide man was replaced by forward Rudy Gestede (6) just after the hour.
CM – Leandro Bacuna (6)
The versatile Bacuna failed to demonstrate his attacking ability as a midfield player and was switched to a familiar right-back role as Villa tried to force attacks in the second half.
CM – Mile Jedinak (5)
The game in the centre of the pitch passed Jedinak by. Outplayed by Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden, Jedinak had a goal disallowed in the 67th minute for offside.
CM – Ashley Westwood (6)
Aston Villa’s Ashley Westwood
In typical Westwood fashion, the midfielder looked tidy and competent on the ball but was too often found guilty of playing safe and not making the forward runs required – consequently replaced for the attacking threat of highly rated rookie, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy; who only had a handful of minutes to impact.
LM – Jordan Amavi (6)
Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie in action with Aston Villa’s Jordan Amavi
Offered little as a left sided midfielder before being reverted to his usual left-back slot at half time. Amavi is another Villa player struggling to show his true ability under the cloud of low confidence.
F – Jordan Ayew (7)
Ayew has taken 27 attempts on goal in the league so far this season, but is yet to score. This disappointing stat was very nearly rectified in the 72nd minute, as Ayew’s curling effort clipped the post and travelled to safety. One of Villa’s better players, but needs to add an end product to his game.
F – Jonathan Kodjia (5)
The £11 million signing from Bristol City looked lost against a very organised Newcastle defence. A poor performance from the forward, who was asked to play wide in the closing stages after Gestede’s arrival off the bench.
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