Aston Villa responded to a defeat to open their first points of the new Premier League season with a 2-0 victory at home against Newcastle United on Saturday.
A great start to the match from those in the crowd and on the pitch soon went down in an outrageous staccato first half that was heavy with rain but light on quality.
That is until Danny Ings produced an early challenger for the season’s goal with a blowing overhead kick at the start of the half to open the scoring. Villa came out after the break with a new sense of calm and serenity as Newcastle were limited to rare outbursts ahead on the counter.
Danny Ings presents himself to Villa fans in style! ? pic.twitter.com/eJLl0F8JAA
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 21 August 2021
Approaching hour, the two captains combined to give Villa a penalty as Mings had his head blocked by Jamaal Lascelles outstretched arm. Anwar El Ghazi coolly converted to 2-0.
Emiliano Martinez’s blushing was spared after a close offside -VAR call interrupted a Newcastle penalty that Callum Wilson earned for hitting the Villa goalkeeper to a ball over the top with fifteen minutes left before Villa saw the match.
Tyrone Mings took over as Aston Villas captain after the departure of Jack Grealish / Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Emiliano Martinez (GK) – 5/10 – Barely tested before we judged the race to jump ball with Wilson.
Matty Cash (RB) – 6/10 – Always eager to raid forward and give width to Villa along the right side but lacked quality with his last pass.
Ezri Konsa (CB) – 6/10 – Reluctant to be touch-tight to the physically impressive Callum Wilson but made sure he never got a clear view of the goal.
Tyrone Mings (CB) – 7/10 – Surprisingly more influential in the opposition’s penalty area than his own but firm nonetheless.
Ashley Young (LB) – 7/10 – Back in front of Villa Park faithful for the first time in more than a decade, Young was sloppy on the ball but used the full breadth and breadth of his experience on the pitch (accumulated after leaving Villa) for a composed display.
Douglas Luiz (right) made sure Allan Saint-Maximin did not have a straight arrow towards Villa’s goal / Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
John McGinn (CM) – 6/10 – As he advanced from midfield, McGinn’s commitment in the second half waned.
Douglas Luiz (CM) – 6/10 – The tough Brazilian dropped between the midfielders to try to dictate games and showed the inertia that a summer with the Copa America and Olympic football will bring.
Jacob Ramsey (CM) – 7/10 – Flickering around the edge of the competition to begin with, Ramsey grew into the game, dropping deep and appearing around the edge of the field as he tried to bridge the gap between midfield and attack.
Poetry in motion. ? @IngsDanny pic.twitter.com/15GsVsTyxa
– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 21, 2021
Emi Buendia (RW) – 6/10 – Driven in from the right, Villas’ tent signing peppered the first half with flashes of cool-head quality but faded.
Danny Ings (ST) – 8/10 – His goal will always be to grab the headlines (see above) but Ing’s willingness to sink deep and push the opposition proved the possibilities for a successful home debut.
Anwar El Ghazi (LW) – 7/10 – Worked doggedly off the ball in an attempt to replicate a fraction of the industry caused by the absence of Ollie Watkins and turned it into six successful penalties in the Premier League of six.
Dean Smith makes his first change in the afternoon …
? 2-0 ⚫ [86′] #AVLNEW pic.twitter.com/dWkPhpb1va
– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 21, 2021
Jaden Philogene -Bidace (RW) – N / A
Axel Tuanzebe (CM) – N / A
Wesley (ST) – N / A
Freddie Woodman conceded his second penalty in as many Premier League matches / Alex Morton / Getty Images
Freddie Woodman (GK) – 5/10 – In only his second Premier League appearance, Woodman could do little about Ing’s subversive or penalty. Rarely worried otherwise.
Fabian Schar (CB) – 5/10 – Just briefly showed his amazing distribution.
Jamaal Lascelles (CB) – 3/10 – In a groggy performance, the Newcastle captain was left sprawled on the lawn when Mings hit him on the head from a simple long throw before the opening goal and conceded a penalty.
Federico Fernandez (CB) – 5/10 – As the only returning member of the back-three to start the Premier League campaign by sending four goals against West Ham, Fernandez was sacrificed when Steve Bruce threw Joelinton on.
Joe Willock (left) debuted as a permanent Newcastle player on Saturday / Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Jacob Murphy (RWB) – 4/10 – Guilty of an obvious dive in the first half, Murphy did not give much forward and looked nervous at the back.
Joe Willock (CM) – 5/10 – Desperate to get into the resistance box at every opportunity but could not bother Martinez.
Isaac Hayden (CM) – 6/10 – Lumbered with a great responsibility as the only starting midfielder with a hint of defensive responsibility, sat behind almost a square with teammates through the middle. Forced off with injury at half time.
Miguel Almiron (CM) – 4/10 – Struggled to exert some real influence on procedures.
Matt Ritchie (LWB) – 5/10 – Swung in a steady stream of crosses that barely found their target.
Callum Wilson was guilty of an early miss / Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Allan Saint -Maximin (ST) – 5/10 – There is no doubt that Saint-Maximin can beat one or two opponents, but when he so regularly falls into his own half to start angering forward, he gives himself too much to do.
Callum Wilson (ST) – 6/10 – Missed a gaping chance in the opening stages but fought playably with Mings all the time.
? Change during the break for the Magpies. #AVLNEW // #NUFC pic.twitter.com/UW8AFY64lO
– Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) 21 August 2021
Sean Longstaff (CM) – 5/10 – More and more in midfield as Villa gained more and more control over the procedures.
Joelinton (ST) – N / A
Ryan Fraser (LW) – N / A
