After a very disappointing final scoreline against Chelsea in our last match, but a very promising overall performance, there’s no way to describe Saturday’s clash with Everton other than a complete disappointment until it turned into a completely unexpected rollercoaster of a second half.
The first half was woeful, from both sides, but particularly from us the Chelsea promise had completely evaporated and short of the defence looking solid, the overall performance showed exactly why 352 may not be the way forward. Credit to Dean Smith though, come the second half he made the right change by taking off a poor Matt Targett and introducing Leon Bailey and we simply didn’t look back.
Five minutes later Douglas Luiz sent Matty Cash through for his first Villa goal. Three minutes after that Bailey rifled in a corner that took a flick of Digne and six minutes after that, Bailey got the goal he wanted as he chased down a brilliant through ball by Danny Ings.
Bailey’s injury, McGinn’s potential knock as well as Cash (and the overall performance) are massive concerns, but if we can play well and lose, then celebrate playing awfully but having a 30 minute spell where we score three goals, knowing the scoreline could’ve been higher.
Statistics website Whoscored clearly had us as the better side after that result (much as they had Chelsea as the better side last game) and they gave Man of the Match to Douglas Luiz with a score of 8.55.
Completing the top five on the day were Matty Cash (8.30), Tyrone Mings (7.97), Jacob Ramsey (7.36) and Leon Bailey (7.23).
An extra mention for Danny Ings (7.17).
For me though, as solid as Dougie was, Bailey changed the game, he’s the clear MotM as his introduction changed the pace of the entire match.
Everton MotM (Is It Even A Question?)
Douglas Luiz
Tyrone Mings
Matty Cash
Erm Leon Bailey?
