Player Ratings: Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham

Emi Martínez: 7/10

A compact performance from the goalkeeper, displaying impressive shot stopping abilities for the opposition’s seven attempts on his goal. Additionally, his ball retention skills impressed as the goalkeeper completed 95% of his attempted passes.

Matty Cash: 7/10

The right-back’s forward passing caught the eye on a sunny afternoon in the second city. Time and time again, his well-executed passing allowed the home team to break through the oppositions back four and transition the ball from midfield into an attacking phase of play. Cash was also defensively sound, allowing little let up with his pressing and dispossessing of a boisterous opposition front three.

Ezri Konsa: 6/10

The center-back, coming off the back of securing a new five-year deal for the team in claret and blue, had a quiet affair. He was able to maneuver himself into the necessary positions to ease pressure on his goal. The defender was able to dispossess the opposition on a number of occasions, however, he was ineffective in possession in which led to a total of seven unforced errors throughout the afternoon.

Tyrone Mings: 6/10

An afternoon full of mixed emotions for the England international as his failure to bring the ball down under pressure gifted the visitors the opening goal with an hour on the clock. Mings was able to resurrect his earlier actions just under twenty minutes later as he found himself within the attacking third of the pitch, executing a precise pull back for substitute Trézéguet to level proceedings and consequently spare his blushes.

Matt Targett: 6/10

A frustrating affair for the full-back saw him ineffective within the attacking phases of play. Failure to provide sufficient support to the attack was evident as he was unable to find a man with any of his seven attempted crosses, however, he enjoyed a dominant defensive display, dispossessing the opposing attack and nullifying any threat from the away team.

Douglas Luiz: 6/10

The Brazilian struggled to seize control of the center of the park on this occasion as his inability to retain possession grew more evident as the game went on; subsequently leading to the midfielder committing silly fouls and picking up a booking.

Morgan Sanson: 7/10

The French midfielder effectively transitioned the ball from the center circle to the opposing penalty area with his tidy range of passing, whereas, he also saw his defensive acumen blossom with his five interceptions in which were able to put the home team back on the front foot.

John McGinn: 7/10

Playing in a more familiar role, as a number 10, which he has commonly adopted in his time with the Scottish National Team. The free license allowed the midfielder to cause problems to the opposition defense and forced them to retreat fifteen to twenty yards whenever he found himself in possession as he successfully completed seven of his eight attempted ball carries.

Anwar El Ghazi: 5/10

The Dutchman completed just shy of an hour in play as he endured a frustrating afternoon. The wide-man was unable to create the necessary influence, only having twenty three touches on the ball in which he failed to retain possession on eighteen of those encounters. That gave manager, Dean Smith, enough reason to bring him off for the later match winner, Trézéguet.

Bertrand Traoré: 7/10

The wide-man endured a rough game, having had a very quiet affair up until the later stage, which when momentum swayed towards the home team, the Burkina Faso international sparked into life to set Villa on the front foot. Traore seemingly put the game beyond doubt with well executed skill inside the box to assist forward, Ollie Watkins.

Ollie Watkins: 6/10

The front man, fresh after scoring on his England debut, was ineffective with his hold up play as a lone striker and for much of proceedings, conceded possession cheaply in which denied the home team any momentum on the front foot. However, once he saw fellow striker, Keinan Davis, come on alongside him, it allowed him to bring the ball down and create openings for his striker partner to run into. With just minutes left, the Englishman ensured all three points would be staying in Birmingham as he found himself in the right place to score his first goal in eight league games.

Trézéguet (SUB): 8/10

Keinan Davis (SUB): 7/10

Jacob Ramsey (SUB): 6/10

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