More Questions Than Answers As A Lacklustre Villa Drop Out The Cup – Match Stats

Another Thursday and another fixture for Aston Villa – this time it’s the EFL Cup fourth round tie against Stoke City and unfortunately, we didn’t welcome former skipper James Chester back to Villa Park as he wasn’t in the squad.

Head coach Dean Smith predictably rotated the squad again and it was the same selection that saw us through to this round following victory over Bristol City the other week.

We had more of the ball but Stoke proved to be tougher opposition than we maybe expected given our slower start and 26 minutes in, they had the lead. We had chances to be back on level terms by the break, but they went begging – particular Keinan Davis’s late effort, so all eyes to the second half.

Our chance creation was arguably improved and Anwar El Ghazi really should’ve found himself on the score sheet (possibly twice) and with the introduction of Ollie Watkins we looked more dangerous and he drew a good save himself – but with 15 minutes to go, we were still chasing.

1-0 it finished…some realism back about our strength in depth with few positives to take – if anything just a few more questions about whether some of these players should be offloaded whilst the window is open.

Previous Article:

“He’s Back” – Smith Delivers Positive Injury News For Villa But Three Remain Out

Aston Villa				Stoke City
				Vokes (26)
Steer				Davies
Guilbert				Collins
Elmohamady				Souttar
Hause			58	Martins Indi
Taylor				Thompson
Lansbury				Obi
Nakamba				Tymon
Ramsey			71	Brown
Traore			77	Powell			75
Davis				Vokes			70
El Ghazi				Campbell			70
Substitutes
Cash				Batth
Konsa			58	Ince
Douglas Luiz				Smith			70
Watkins			71	Gregory
Hourihane				Oakley-Boothe			75
Jota			77	Fletcher			70
Kalinic				Nna Noukeu

Game Statistics
17	Goal attempts	12
5	On Target	3
4	Corners	3
16	Fouls	9
2	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
62	%	38