Aston Villa

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Aston Villa.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

Christopher: Fulham blew it. At 1-1, they should have let Raul Jimenez take the penalty and if they had it's likely they would have gone on to get at least a point from the game. The third goal was a gift . Strange game because Aston Villa were not two goals better.

Ben: Great start but we quickly got over-run in midfield. Marco Silva needs to have a huge rethink on penalty takers, and has to play Andreas Pereira further forward. It wasn't a good performance overall and the red card, although I didn't think it was at the time, was fully justified when I watched the replay and summed the performance up.

David: An implosion and a half. Hugely disappointing after such a good start! We seem to be our own worst enemies. We should be winning games yet seem to fall off the ball or worse in this instance!

Aston Villa fans

James: This was a great win against a good, well-drilled Fulham side. I saw this as a real banana skin. Instead we are In fourth place which keeps our momentum going in the league as we continue to keep an eye on Europe.

Geoff: Villa didn't play particularly well, however to still win shows a team who could be challenging for the title. Fulham are a good team at home, and in the end we beat them. Unai Emery is showing what a great manager he is tactically - probably the best in the league.

Wardy: Solid performance. We always seem to need to go behind before they fully switch on. But the character, and depth in the squad is professional throughout. Emery is golden.

Image source, Getty Images

On BBC Match of the Day, former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given highlighted Aston Villa's left side as being key in the victory against Fulham:

"I think Unai Emery looked at Fulham's set up and perhaps there's a weakness down that side. We know [Adama] Traore is brilliant going forward, but like most attacking players, he doesn't want to track back.

"I think Aston Villa looked quite lop-sided. They pushed Digne on a lot and they [Digne and Jacob Ramsey] linked up really well. They stretched the Fulham back four and caused them real problems.

"I think Cash was told to sit defensively and Digne was pushed forward nearly as a left-winger. Digne was keeping the width and discipline, causing Fulham problems all afternoon.

"I think that comes from the manager. He's been here for two years and the way he's transformed the club, he's done a brilliant job."

Listen to the full analysis of Aston Villa's victory here

Aston Villa have entered the race to sign Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, 25, from Brentford. (TBR Football, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Gary Lineker brings highlights and analysis from Saturday's Seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man Utd 2-1 Brentford

• Bournemouth 2-0 Arsenal

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Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins spoke to BBC Match of the Day after victory against Fulham: "I think it was entertaining for the fans. We didn't control the game as much as we wanted to in the first half.

"In the second half we got the goals that we needed to, but it could have gone either way."

On Morgan Rogers: "He has got the world at his feet. He always wants to work and has the ability to take people on. I am not going to big him up too much as I don't ant his head getting too big, but he's got it all."

On his goal: "In the second half we kept going and finally got there. I was disappointed with my opportunity in the first half. I tried to dink the keeper, but we kept going.

"I am not thinking about the international break I am concentrating on my club form. We have a lot of players that can come on and score. It is good competition and it keeps you on your toes.

"It is only getting better for us and we se the direction the club is going in. It's exciting times being a Villa player."

Timothy Abraham
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Ollie Watkins will grab most of the headlines after the striker scored his fifth goal of the season at Craven Cottage, but goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was arguably Villa's most influential player against Fulham.

The Argentina international was a commanding presence in goal as he made vital blocks in the first half during spells when Fulham were on top and produced yet more penalty-saving heroics.

Martinez has his detractors - especially outside of the club - but of Villa's current squad he is arguably the one who bleeds claret and blue more than anyone else.

No wonder the travelling Villa fans sung his name from the rafters after consecutive away Premier League away wins over Fulham for the first time.

Martinez responded by saving to Andreas Pereira's spot-kick by kissing the Villa badge on his goalkeeper shirt and pointing in the direction of the away end.

If Villa are to challenge for the Premier League title this season then the 32-year-old continuing his magnificent form will be key.

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Aston Villa's victory against Fulham: "Of course, this match is very difficult and Fulham have played very well. We started well, but even with this they scored.

"The penalty was fantastic for Emiliano Martinez. We were not keeping our game-plan in the first 45 minutes.

"We were always trying to impose our style and the second half we kept the same way."

On Morgan Rogers: "He is a talented player. The commitment he has with Aston Villa as he's from Birmingham. We are trying to push him. He has the talent and that's the most important."

On the importance of Lucas Digne and Matty Cash: "We were getting through the left side with Ramsey and Lucas Digne. We were speaking in the dressing room to try improve the last passes into the box. Four times we had a good chance to score through them."

On playing in the Champions League on Tuesday night: "We are playing on Tuesday and we are excited for the Champions league. Of course, we want to analyse the match and prepare tactically."

Image source, Getty Images

Since debuting for Aston Villa in September 2020, Emiliano Martinez has saved four Premier League penalties with only Lukasz Fabianski saving more in this time (five).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Fulham's performance, external

What did you make of Villa’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week eight, he takes on legendary boxing manager Kellie Maloney.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

I always fancy Fulham at home, but they have actually been decent everywhere they’ve played this season - they gave Manchester City a really good game at Etihad Stadium last time out.

A lot will depend on which Aston Villa players are back from injury. The likes of Ezri Konsa and Amadou Onana are doubts, and Villa have got next week's Champions League tie against Bologna to think about too.

The obvious prediction to go for is a draw – that’s what Kellie will go for, I’m sure, and I am going to sit on the fence too.

Kellie's prediction: This is going to be a close one. 1-1

Read the rest of their predictions, and have your own say here

There are seven matches that make up Saturday's Premier League action:

• Tottenham v West Ham - 12:30

• Fulham v Aston Villa

• Ipswich v Everton

• Manchester United v Brentford (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Newcastle v Brighton

• Southampton v Leicester

• Bournemouth v Arsenal - 17:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League returns this weekend, with each club having played seven matches.

BBC Sport has looked at eight players that have performed better than fans may have expected this season.

As back-up to Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran needs to make an impression every time he gets a chance.

That is what the 20-year-old Colombia international has done this season, often as a high-impact super-sub.

He is yet to start a league game this season but has four goals from substitute appearances, including decisive goals in wins against West Ham, Leicester and Everton.

Duran also got the winner in Villa's incredible 1-0 Champions League victory over Bayern Munich, again coming off the bench to score in memorable fashion.

Did you know? Duran has scored three match-winning goals as a substitute in the Premier League this season; no player has ever scored more in a season in the competition.

See the other players BBC Sport picked here

Image source, Opta

With the October international break now firmly in the rearview mirror, Opta Analyst, external have turned their attention to the next four Premier League fixtures.

Here, they have given each team a ranking between 80 and 100 and then found the average to determine to difficulty of the schedule.

Liverpool's opening seven matches were ranked the easiest in the league, but their upcoming four are the fourth-toughest in the division. They will face Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brighton, with an average opponent strength of 91.4 before the next international break.

Fellow early pacesetters Arsenal also have challenging fixtures, playing Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea with an average rating of 90.7, while Manchester City's next four against Wolves, Southampton, Bournemouth and Brighton are ranked the third-easiest by Opta.

Chelsea and Brighton have the second-hardest and third-hardest runs respectively, a real test given the promising starts for their new managers Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler.

At the other end of the table, Leicester - who recently secured their first win of the season against Bournemouth - have a chance to build with the easiest run in the division. They face Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Manchester United.

Fellow promoted side Ipswich will hope to pick up their first win of the season during a run of games that is ranked the fifth-easiest.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier, we asked you to identify the former Aston Villa player from their Premier League statistics playing for the club.

The correct answer was Gareth Southgate.

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game away against Fulham (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Both Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings are available and will travel with the squad after recovering from long-term anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

• John McGinn, Ezri Konsa, Jadon Philogene and Amadou Onana have all trained and are "feeling good". Emery added it is the "first time this year where more or less we have everyone available."

• Meanwhile, substitute Jhon Duran's formidable goalscoring form off the bench is close to earning him a start: "I am thinking with how he is progressing how important it is for him to start these matches. Maybe tomorrow or maybe in the next games we play."

• However, Emery said it is "not easy" to adjust after the international break: "This morning we were speaking about the tactical gameplan for tomorrow. Of course we now travel to Fulham and in the hotel this evening, we will work again and tomorrow morning. We will try to change their minds after being with their national teams [and coming] back to us."

• On the challenge posed by Marco Silva's side: "I respect Marco a lot as a coach. He is incredible. They are very competitive [with] very good organisation. They are three points behind us. Last year, they competed very well, but this year they are an option to threaten the top seven teams. This team is one of the teams I am analysing as a rival of us."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Guess the former Aston Villa player from their Premier League statistics at the club:

• Years at club: 1995-2001

• National team: England

• Position: Defender

• Appearances: 191

• Goals: 7

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST

Image source, Opta

After the October international break, the Opta supercomputer has updated its projected final Premier League table.

It is only seven matches into the campaign so much can still change, but the season is beginning to take shape. The supercomputer simulates thousands of seasons and takes the percentage each side finishes in each league position.

After a strong start under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's chances of finishing fourth have increased from 19.5% to 37.1%.

Newcastle are second favourites for fourth spot at 15.1% - down slightly from 17.5% at the start of the campaign - followed by Tottenham at 14% which is up slightly from 11.6% before a ball was kicked.

Aston Villa's continued good form has seen their probability of finishing fourth go from 5.6% to 13.2%, with their most likely finish now fifth at 18.1%. Before the start of the season it was seventh or eighth, both at 11.1%.

Manchester United's poor start is reflected in their chance of finishing fourth dropping from 12.9% to just 2.1%.

Which Villa player would come first in a sprinting race?

And who does the most walking?

We've gathered the data from the Premier League season so far - and you might be surprised.

Find out over here

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery's "experience" is what kept striker Jhon Duran at Aston Villa and has helped him to perform this season, says former Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Duran has scored six goals in 10 games so far this campaign, with five of those goals coming in his nine substitute appearances.

With Ollie Watkins the regular starter up front, it was questioned whether Duran would stay at Villa in the summer but the Colombia international has since signed a new contract with the club.

"The fact that Emery can do various things with his squad is really impressive," Hitzlsperger told the Planet Premier League podcast.

"It does work for Duran coming off the bench. Duran was about to leave in the summer and most managers would just say 'I'm not interested in you any more, you don't want to be part of this team - go'. Then they would tell the owners to find a new club for him.

"But Emery managed to put his arm around Duran and said 'you have got quality, we need you, you can help this team' and he has delivered sooner than expected.

"That is so brilliant and that is when the experience of Unai Emery comes in and says 'I have got a spot for you, just be patient' and it all pays off.

"That recipe with Ollie Watkins starting and Duran coming on, why would you change it if it works?"

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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"More could be made of the fact that so much of Villa's squad and starting XI is comprised of young British talent. Five Englishmen started against Bayern Munich, for example," said Dom, a Villa supporter who contacted this page.

So let us make more of it now.

I do not know how long you have been watching Villa, Dom, but your comment reminded me that, when I first reported on them, it would have been a story had they only fielded five English-born players.

John Gregory's all-English Villa team selection in February 1999 was little-noticed at the time, but remains the last such example in a Premier League game. For a modern generation of football supporters it must seem a historical curio. This is a different age.

Villa's academy has been lauded for years as one of the most productive in the country, and the sale of Jack Grealish probably repaid many years-worth of investment the club has made in it.

The current English-born section of the squad are not all products of the club - although Jacob Ramsey is a major success for academy staff - but with several on the fringes of the squad, it is likely there will be another breakthrough before long.

More widely, Villa's current English group puts the wider pyramid of the game in a good light.

Of the five who started against Bayern, four - Jaden Philogene, Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers - played a significant number of games in the Championship or below before being given a chance in the Premier League.

Their progress should serve as an incentive to the better players in the EFL structure to keep pushing. You can make up for 'lost' time, and the experience gained through the levels will probably help when you get to the top.

Whether it really matters any more that Villa have a strong English-born core to their squad is debatable. There are players in the squad from the other side of the world who clearly care as deeply for Villa as if they had been born on Witton Lane. Villa are part of a showcase for the world's top players, fitted into the English structure.

What it does show is that Villa's academy and recruitment remain in the top bracket, and will serve them well as they try to keep their squad competitive within the financial regulations.

Listen to full commentary of Fulham v Aston Villa at 15:00 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio WM

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights