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Analysis: A crucial win but Villa still far from their bestpublished at 17:21 BST 28 September
17:21 BST 28 September
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa desperately needed this victory.
Not that Unai Emery's position is under threat, but the narrative around their season was one of concern following five winless games.
More is expected of a club with European ambitions, so the nature of Aston Villa's flat and listless performances had been a growing worry.
Three points against Fulham will now give Villa the springboard they craved as they travel to Feyenoord in the Europa League this week.
The visit of Burnley follows in the Premier League and quickly the horizon looks a little brighter, especially following Thursday's narrow Europa League win over Bologna.
It wasn't that Villa were at their swashbuckling best - it was far from it. They ground the result out after falling behind to Raul Jimenez's header, while there was also an element of Fulham allowing them a route back.
Ollie Watkins ending his goal drought, having gone nine games without scoring, removes another obstacle which had threatened to trip up Villa this season.
The striker, who struck 16 times in the Premier League last season, is so crucial to Villa's hopes due to their minimal goalscoring back-up.
His return to the scoresheet capped a satisfying, if not comprehensive, win.
Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham: What Emery, McGinn and Buendia saidpublished at 16:31 BST 28 September
16:31 BST 28 September
Media caption,
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery spoke to Sky Sports after his side claimed their first Premier League win of the season: "I'm happy. Overall, we kept the consistency we achieved on Thursday but we started a little bit low on energy. We conceded one goal and it was again a very difficult moment, but we reacted. We were winning duels and recovering the ball as high as possible and then we were being aggressive."
On Ollie Watkins' goal: "It is very important for the team because he wasn't scoring goals. Today we needed goals through Watkins, Buendia and McGinn. We aren't where we want to be but this result will hopefully help us get better. How the players are connecting and adapting is important."
On why he substituted off Harvey Elliott at half-time: "I changed him more tactically because Emiliano Buendia can give us energy and his adaptation is better than Elliott. He needs time and Emiliano did fantastically."
On Aston Villa finding their form: "We drew three matches away, it wasn't the worst and it wasn't the best either. I said we were improving and getting better, but we needed to improve things and today we did it.
"We play in Feyenoord on Thursday and we have the opportunity to get confidence there. It's another opportunity and challenge. Then we can keep being consistent at home."
On Jadon Sancho's absence: "He was feeling sick before the game so that's why he wasn't on the bench, but he will be important for us."
Captain John McGinn spoke to BBC Match of the Day after scoring at Villa Park: "I'm delighted but relieved at the same time. It has been a very poor start to the season and losing here 3-0 in the last home game was tough to take. We actually started well and then we reacted really well to conceding the corner.
"It's not an easy place to play when the crowd are on your back but when you get momentum, what a place it is to play. It was important to show belief and confidence in each other. What a win and what a huge show of character from us."
On Ollie Watkins' form: "He's had a lot of criticism in recent weeks, but what he will get from us as teammates and staff is love and support. What he has given us in recent seasons is nothing short of brilliant.
"He always has a spell in the season where it doesn't quite click for him but he runs a lot, he works hard and when he gets the ball you expect that he will score. Hopefully that shuts a few people up."
Goalscorer Emiliano Buendia also spoke to Sky Sports after the match: "It was nice just to feel the freedom between the lines and find spaces. It felt really good after coming on from the bench. I try to help the team as much as possible.
"It is really amazing to get my first Premier League goal in years. With the injury, I had a few low moments. I worked hard to be back here again so I'm really happy."
Did you know?
This is the latest Aston Villa have ever won their first match of a Premier League campaign and their latest overall in a league campaign since 1969-70 season, when they didn't win their first league game until their 10th match in the second tier.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Aston Villa v Fulham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Arsenal".
Sutton's predictions: Aston Villa v Fulhampublished at 10:00 BST 28 September
10:00 BST 28 September
I know Aston Villa beat Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday but they were poor against Sunderland on Sunday.
The biggest worry for me was that they just didn't seem to connect, even though they were playing against 10 men. It looked like their forwards had never played together before.
Fulham come into this after winning two league games in a row, against Leeds and Brentford, and they will definitely see this as winnable too.
Most people have probably been looking at Villa and thinking they have made a poor start and will turn things round, but I've not seen anything to suggest that will happen.
They will have to create far more than they have been doing if they are going to get their first win of the season. I have given them a goal and a point here, but I am not entirely sure why.
Aston Villa v Fulham: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 13:10 BST 27 September
13:10 BST 27 September
Noel Sliney BBC Sport senior journalist
BBC Sport examines some of the main themes going into Sunday's fixture between Aston Villa and Fulham.
Villa's first win of the season, at the seventh time of asking, on Thursday did little to ease the crisis of confidence among their forward players. A narrow Europa League victory over a limited Bologna was achieved more through perspiration than inspiration - and there is increasing exasperation among supporters with the two players who shoulder so much of the attacking burden for Unai Emery's side.
Ollie Watkins' poor penalty was symptomatic of his, and the team's, lack of conviction so far this season. He has now missed four of his past eight spot-kicks, excluding shootouts, and gone nine games without a goal – the joint-worst run of his Villa career. Across those appearances, spanning more than 11 hours, Watkins has only had 40 touches in the opposition penalty area and averaged less than one shot on target per game.
But arguably Villa's biggest concern is the form of Morgan Rogers. In truth, the PFA Young Player of the Year's influence has waned since the early February arrival of loanees Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford, which meant he was moved to a less-favoured position wide on the right. However, Rogers has looked a shadow of his former self this season back in his preferred number 10 role. He has the worst pass accuracy and duel success rate of any Villa player in 2025-26.
The 23-year-old's performance on Thursday may well have been the nadir as he only completed 10 of his 24 passes and lost possession a staggering 29 times. Ironic cheers greeted a successful pass he made in the 89th minute.
Fan frustration has been heightened by the fact Rogers' laboured displays – though there was no lack of effort from him against Bologna – contrast so sharply with his lively and inventive performance for England against Serbia earlier this month.
Emery intimated after Thursday's game that he keeps selecting Rogers in the hope he can play himself into form. "He needs to take experiences like today - not playing very well, the crowd not being happy with him - and grow up through it."
Rogers and his team-mates must now find a way to end the club's longest wait for a league win from the start of a season since 1969.
Fulham, meanwhile, are seeking a third successive victory but have historically been obliging opponents, with only one win in their past 21 league visits to Villa Park.
It is also five straight defeats for them in this fixture since a 3-0 home triumph in October 2022 resulted in Steven Gerrard being replaced by Emery as Villa manager.
A generation of Villa fans have never had it so good since then; it is a feeling they are in a hurry to rediscover.
Struggling Rogers must ignore the jeers published at 11:21 BST 26 September
11:21 BST 26 September
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Morgan Rogers must play his way back into form and ignore the jeers, says Aston Villa boss Unai Emery.
The England international endured another disappointing display, despite Villa's 1-0 Europa League win over Bologna.
He completed just 10 of 24 attempted passes, a success rate of just under 42%, and won only four of his 12 duels.
Villa fans directed ironic cheers towards Rogers after he completed a pass late on as the hosts won their first game of the season.
"The fans have to show their emotions," Emery said. "We have to accept it. They applaud us and sometimes not.
"Morgan is young and needs time for experiences. I kept him on the field because I wanted his reaction, how he was accepting everything and he did it.
"He didn't play well and didn't be clinical in the attacking third to do the last assist, but I wanted to keep him because, firstly he's always doing his task.
"He was working for the team, but he was not being clinical offensively. He needs to take experiences, not playing very well, the crowd not being happy with him and him getting his experiences and grow up through it."
'Never mind the quality, a win is a win' - fans on Bolognapublished at 08:15 BST 26 September
08:15 BST 26 September
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Aston Villa's 1-0 victory over Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Here are some of your comments:
Steve: Well it's a few things! An improvement, a confidence booster, a win, another clean sheet, and something we can build on.
Mike: Not the most convincing performance but after the start we've had, a win is a win.
Keith: It is a start. A win is a win but Morgan Rogers, Evann Guessand and Ollie Watkins are dragging the team down - they need to be sat on the bench and bring in Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho for the next match.
Prit: Never mind the quality, a win is a win all thanks to our captain fantastic John McGinn. Despite his missed penalty, I thought Watkins did OK and if he continues like this a goal will come. We were hanging on in the second half and praise must be given to Marco Bizot who kept Bologna out. Not sure what's going on with Rogers as he doesn't seem himself with a Villa shirt on but can still perform for England.
James: Best first half so far this season. We looked hungry again. Pau Torres added something extra and Boubacar Kamara takes us to another level. Only criticism is we should have converted more chances.
Robert: Fans should hang their head in shame for ironically cheering a successful Rogers pass in the second half, even after an underwhelming performance. Happy with the win. Who knows what's happened to team morale recently but a goal, clean sheet, an odd Tifo and very dubious penalty run up from Watkins makes watching Villa entertaining again. Hopefully a heavy press on the reset button for the season.
Ken: Aston Villa again lost almost all duels and challenged balls. Unai Emery is right to demand more efforts since Villa are obviously in team crisis.
'There needs to be a drastic improvement'published at 08:04 BST 26 September
08:04 BST 26 September
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa hauled themselves across the line for a victory that gets their season under way but they are a long way from what is expected of them.
Their last European game at Villa Park was a swashbuckling, dramatic and heroic 3-2 Champions League quarter-final second leg win over Paris St-Germain in April which pushed the eventual champions - who squeezed through 5-4 on aggregate - to the limit.
Fast forward to September and Villa are lacking confidence and conviction as they tackle Europe again.
Ollie Watkins' missed second-half penalty summed up the lack of belief at Villa Park against an average Bologna who nearly grabbed a point, but for Marco Bizot's late save to deny Martin Vitik.
They got the job done but did nothing to show they are out of their rut. A positive start gave way to a stuttering display which better and more ruthless teams - in Europe and the Premier League - will punish.
It gives them something to build on before Sunday's visit of Fulham but the loss in form of Morgan Rogers and Watkins - both so pivotal last season - is a growing concern.
Unai Emery has so often squeezed every drop out of this Villa side since he joined just under three years ago but he needs to find some extra juice now.
The bar has been so high under Emery it is no wonder the questions about Villa's form and performance are there. And there needs to be a drastic improvement to even get close to those previous heights.
'I am positive, excited and motivated' - Emerypublished at 08:02 BST 26 September
08:02 BST 26 September
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports after beating Bologna 1-0 in the Europa League: "At home I felt always here, three years since I arrived, we are always strong and confident and creating and building with energy.
"I felt it. If you are not bringing that energy, it is difficult. I think we deserved to win."
On Ollie Watkins' form: "This is the first step to recover his confidence. Then he has a penalty and he created chances too. The most important thing is to recover the confidence and then do his task like he did and then he will [score goals]."
In response to whether he will he score again? "We need more, we need more."
On Villa's ambitions: "When I came here, my dreams were to play in Europe.
"Then how we can feel improving every day and how we can be consistent in the Premier League. We did it in the Premier League when we were in the Conference League and we got Champions League.
"This year, I am positive and excited and motivated. We know that by being consistent we can achieve a lot. Hopefully, on Sunday, we can show it again."
Can Olabe solve Villa's transfer strategy?published at 15:29 BST 25 September
15:29 BST 25 September
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Monchi's transfer record can be questioned but so can Aston Villa's policy over the last few years.
Since promotion in 2019 under Dean Smith, they have spent more than £700m.
Of course, Villa have banked in excess of £400m in sales in the same period but almost half of that is from the £100m deal which took Jack Grealish to Manchester City in 2021 and Jhon Duran's £71m move to Al-Nassr in January.
Villa have been under severe financial restrictions to comply with Premier League and Uefa spending rules, having been fined by the European governing body this year.
They have been outspoken critics of Profit and Sustainability rules, insisting it has hampered their attempts to consistently compete with the top five [Villa voted against the introduction of the rules in 2015] but have still spent significant amounts.
That includes the pre-Monchi £17m vanity project of Philippe Coutinho who joined Vasco De Gama this summer having not played for Villa for two years after making just seven league starts.
They have broken their transfer record several times with the signings of Ollie Watkins, Emi Buendia, Moussa Diaby and, last year, Amadou Onana for £50m from Everton.
Yet of the XI who started Sunday's draw at Sunderland, just two were signed by Monchi and Emery - Morgan Rogers and Evann Guessand.
John McGinn was signed by Steve Bruce in 2018 while two - Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne - joined under Steven Gerrard with the rest being signed by Smith, who was sacked nearly four years ago.
Of Monchi's signings, Rogers, who was pushed by Emery for an initial £8m, has been a success with the forward becoming an England international, with Youri Tielemans, a free transfer, and Pau Torres recognised as others.
Yet Onana - currently out with a hamstring injury - started just 22 games due to injury last season, Diaby lasted a year, while Donyell Malen - a £21m signing from Dortmund in January - has made five starts.
Marco Asensio's loan from Real Madrid was a success in the second half of last season but Marcus Rashford's temporary move from Manchester United did not pay off.
The hit-and-miss nature of recent transfers means Emery has been reliant on a core of Smith signings: Emi Martinez, Matty Cash, Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Watkins.
It strengthens Emery's hand in that he has improved a squad which had previously struggled but suggests a larger problem with the transfer strategy, regardless of restrictions.
Those at Villa Park were not entirely happy with the summer business - despite the deadline day additions of Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott - because they were unable to get the majority of their desired players due to finances.
Yet, with Roberto Olabe focused on the medium-to-long term, there is likely to be an acceptance Villa have to grow in a different way with, potentially, more academy graduates.
Olabe bought and sold Alexander Isak at Real Sociedad while he also signed Martin Odegaard on loan and oversaw Martin Zubimendi's development before his £60m move to Arsenal.
He will need to bring the same skill to help Villa develop, especially as they plot a new path.
Gossip: Villa keen to make Sancho loan permanentpublished at 07:02 BST 25 September
07:02 BST 25 September
Aston Villa are eyeing a permanent move for 25-year-old England forward Jadon Sancho, who is currently on loan at the club from Manchester United. (National World), external
'No need for crisis meetings' - Konsapublished at 16:19 BST 24 September
16:19 BST 24 September
Image source, Getty Images
Ezri Konsa has dismissed the need for crisis meetings despite his side's poor start to the season.
The Villa defender said boss Unai Emery's comments about 'lazy' defending after Sunday's draw with Sunderland were "fair" because "we know it's not good enough."
"We pride ourselves on playing a high line - it's something that the boss has tried to install since he came in," Konsa continued. "We didn't quite get it right.
"Things haven't been good so far for us this season, but there are blips in a season and we're going through that now. Hopefully we can move on from that."
Villa are in the relegation zone after failing to win any of their opening five Premier League games, drawing three and losing two.
On talks of 'crisis meetings' Konsa said: "I don't think we are at the stage to have meetings. Some say 'crisis meetings', but we have a great captain in John McGinn who really takes the lead in stuff like that.
"After the game, he said some words to keep us going and encourage us. We haven't started the season well - we know that - but I'm sure it'll go well soon."
Emery on European dream, objectives and Bolognapublished at 15:03 BST 24 September
15:03 BST 24 September
Marissa Thomas BBC Sport journalist
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game against Bologna at Villa Park (kick-off 20:00).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On Monchi leaving as sporting director and Roberto Olabe coming in: "Monchi arrived six or seven months after we arrived here. He was very good, personally and professionally, but after two years he needed another chapter in his career. We reacted quickly by bringing in one person I know personally. I have a lot of confidence with Roberto and he is coming to help us. We decided with him and the club to do a normal transition. It changes nothing, only changing the man."
Emery described the Europa League as "an amazing competition" and said: "This is Europe. Europe is very, very important to take it strongly, mentally, and to compete in each moment being consistent."
On tomorrow's opponents Bologna: "A very good team, last year they played Champions League with us and we won but it was a difficult match. They have the same coach, a lot of the same players. The style they are doing is more or less the same. Very aggressive, man to man, it's a difficult team.
Emery added that Villa's objective in Europe is "to get [into] the first eight positions" in the league phase of the Europa League.
As the most successful manager in the history of the competition with four titles, Emery said: "I really love to play in Europe and I am so grateful that Aston Villa is giving me the chance to play in Europe. We played in the Conference League two years ago, last year we played in the Champions League, this year it is the Europa League. Europe is a dream to share with our supporters. Villa Park is always amazing. I think the supporters will be excited to be in this competition."
On player meetings: "With the players I have meetings and we are speaking openly about how we want to build the team, tactically and with our demands. Tomorrow is very exciting to play in Europe and then we will speak again about the league with Fulham [on Sunday]."
Emery 'will need to count on his key players'published at 13:10 BST 24 September
13:10 BST 24 September
Mike Taylor BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Imagine a parallel footballing universe where no manager or player is interviewed after a game until the following day, allowing them time to review the match in detail.
But that's not where we all live. Instead Premier League managers are on the clock as soon as the full-time whistle blows, rather than being able to stand in a cold shower for a while.
Further allowance should also be made for managers not speaking in their first language. Taken together, that may be all the explanation necessary for Unai Emery's tone in Sunderland last weekend, so jarring for being so rare. Managers seldom criticise their players so sharply in public any more, and particularly not Emery, who has had very little cause anyway to complain about his Villa players since taking over nearly three years ago.
I hear a suggestion that the word that particularly leapt off the page - "lazy" - may not quite have been the word he had in mind, so let's discount it. There were plenty of other words to make his point: "Usually the players have [the right] attitude. But sometimes maybe they are a bit upset or not feeling good - they are not fighting."
Emery has been in management long enough to know how players respond to all kinds of stimuli, but this can still be a dangerous area.
No doubt he was saying nothing that he had not already shared with his players. It is hard to imagine Emery indulging in a public rant just for show. He has worked with most of his key players for a long time so he should know their likely response.
Plus, many of the key characters - Tyrone Mings, John McGinn and others - are straight-talkers themselves, and seem unlikely to be bruised by this.
That is just as well, because Emery will need them. Even after three years, many of his regular selections are players who arrived before him. This highlights how much they have improved in his charge, but how difficult it has been to refresh the squad.
Some of their more expensive signings have come and gone while hardly leaving a mark, and now the man who oversaw their arrival, Monchi, has exited too.
Emery may have been disillusioned with some of his team's work recently, but he will need to count on the same men repeatedly if Villa's progress since 2022 is not to be wasted.
Image source, Getty Images
