TF Player Ratings - Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle Utd

Stephen picks through the debris to assess what he saw at Villa Park

Nick Pope – 5

Two good saves and probably helpless for three of the goals but if everyone in black and white has a stinker, you need your keeper to bail you out. He did his best and it wasn’t for lack of trying. The inability to play through the press or just keep the ball was highlighted by how many times he exchanged passes with Burn and Schär.

Kieran Trippier – 5

Aye he’s class most games but today wasn’t for him. He was outmuscled and manoeuvred by Rodgers, saw his usual calm nature ripped away and for the later goals we were badly exposed down his side. Also the set pieces were dreadful.

Fabian Schär- 4

Ollie Watkins destroyed him and the chip into the middle for what I think was the fourth was a sign of how frustrating he can be. Lack of pace or ability to keep the defensive unit cohesive meant that he looked all at sea. Good header though so …

Dan Burn – 5

Hard to pick out anything he did spectacularly wrong, but also worrying how many times there were gaps between he and Schär that meant attackers were flying in at goal. Any danger we can also not have to watch him chase speedy players back toward our own goal. Love him but he wasn’t at his best today.

Tino Livramento – 6 MOTM

When the MOTM gets a 6 you know you’ve been on the end of a hiding. Tried his best to get attacks going and really utilised that partnership with Barnes. They just didn’t get many chances today.

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Joelinton – 5

Frustrated by fouls, then booked when it didn’t look like a foul. Hard day at the office but he also gave the ball away cheaply far too often.

Bruno Guimarães – 5

Lack of pace was found out today, couldn’t live with the movement of the Villa midfield and in all honesty can we ask him to stop flinging himself over all the time. Needless booking, lack of leadership but he clapped the away end and gave his shirt away so he’s a hero.

Sandro Tonali – 6

Manfully tried to make some progress and shore up a defence that was parted more times than a set of curtains. The whole team needs to click on days like this, he didn’t have his best game but he was right in the thick of it – particularly first half.

Jacob Murphy – 4

Put the Ballon d’Or vote away for another week. I don’t think he’ll want to watch this game back and I don’t think Maatsen will mind marking him again if he plays like this.

Alexander Isak – 5

Looked lost for large parts of the games we never tried to spring him in over the top really and the Villa back line did a decent job of marshalling him when he got free.

Harvey Barnes – 5

Good assist again and nice to see him dovetailing better on that left side with players. Not his fault we didn’t get anything today but he didn’t really have a chance of note either.

Subs

Gordon – 5. Willing runner, nothing happening.

Willock – 4. Spent more time doing his shoe laces than on the ball.

Krafth – 5. Still looks our best defensively when he’s at right centre back but we shouldn’t be relying on him to shore it up at that stage.

Wilson – 5. Aye – Will Osula must be furious or awful or about to be sold if he can’t get twenty minutes here.

Targett – n/a. He came on and got booed, then got done by a Rashford move and you remember why he barely plays.

Stephen Ord