First blood was for Steven Gerrard in his managerial rivalry with old England team-mate Frank Lampard, but he had the retired Tyrone Mings to thank for Aston Villa’s first win of the season.
With time running out and Villa 2-1 up, Everton substitute Salomon Rondon looked certain to equalise, only for Mings, stripped of the captaincy and then dropped by Gerrard last week, to pounce and arrest him
A very sad game looked to have been settled with goals from either side from Danny Ings and substitute Emi Buendia. But after Lucas Digne’s own goal two minutes from time, the game sprang into life as both teams neglected to defend and created several scoring chances. When the whistle went in the ninth minute of stoppage time, Gerrard was finally able to celebrate, with Lampard’s men yet to get off the mark this season.
First blood was drawn for Gerrard in his managerial rivalry with old England team-mate Lampard
Gerrard had Tyrone Mings (right) to thank to secure Aston Villa’s first win of the season
Under pressure after an abject display in defeat at Bournemouth, Villa were quickly out of the traps and Diego Carlos headed in new captain John McGinn’s corner early on. Jacob Ramsey then broke through from inside his own half only to be denied by Mason Holgate’s superb tackle.
The Holte End chanted Mings’ name after he tangled with Anthony Gordon, shortly before the Everton striker thought he had given his side the lead.
Danny Ings opened the scoring for Aston Villa in the 31st minute of the game at Villa Park
It was his stunning touch that got the better of the much-praised defender
This is a Danny Ings finish! 🎯
The Aston Villa #9 opens the scoring with a quick turn before firing the ball into the bottom corner 👌 pic.twitter.com/ukJOEqt8Sh
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 13, 2022
Gordon headed home from close range in the 24th minute after James Tarkowski had headed Dwight McNeil’s corner into his path, although he was correctly flagged for offside, only for a minute of needless VAR checks . Because?
DATA OF THE MATCH
ASTON VILLA (4-3-1-2): Martinez 7; Cash 7 (Konsa 90), D Carlos 6 (Chambers 90), Mings 6., Digne 5.5 McGinn 7.5, Kamara 8, Ramsey 7 (Young 90); Coutinho 5.5 (Buendia 60, 7); Ings 7 (Bailey 78, 6), Watkins 6.
SUBSTITUTES NOT USED: Olsen, Luiz, Augustinsson, Archer.
EVERTON (3-4-3): Pickford 6.5; Holgate 7.5, Coady 6 (Alli 81), Tarkowski 7.5; Patterson 6.5, Doucoure 6 (Davies 34, 6) Iwobi 7, Mykolenko 6.5; McNeil 6 (Rondon 64, 6), Gordon 6.5, Gray 6 (Onana 81).
SUBS NOT USED: Begovic, Keane, Coleman, Vinagre, Mills.
REFEREE: M Oliver (Northumberland) 5.5
McGinn wanted to make an impression in his first game at Villa Park as full-time skipper and he did exactly that near the half-hour mark. The Scot won McNeil’s ball close to his own box and found Ollie Watkins with a long diagonal pass. Although Ings took a poor touch from the low cross, it actually fell perfectly to him to dance around Abdoulaye Doucoure and fire Villa in front from 15 yards.
With the temperature reaching 30 degrees, there was a need for cool heads and Mings thanked Boubacar Kamara for rescuing him from a bad judgement.
Trying to meet Alex Iwobi’s cross, the English defender missed his jump and the ball fell to Demarai Gray six yards out. Before the striker could shoot, Kamara rushed in to take a corner and save a certain goal.
Everton had played very cautiously before the break and needed to be more positive afterwards. They also had a little help from referee Michael Oliver, who made two strange decisions.
When Lucas Digne made a clear tackle on Nathan Patterson near the Villa box, Oliver cautioned the Frenchman and awarded a free-kick. At the other end, Tom Davies, who had replaced the injured Doucoure in the first half, attacked Watkins inside the ‘D’. Much to Gerrard’s fury, Oliver said he was still playing.
Gerrard’s mood would have darkened again when Gray cut in from the left under little pressure and Emiliano Martinez looked unconvincing to keep the goal out. Then Coutinho, who had made little impact, complained of injury and was replaced by Emi Buendia.
Emiliano Buendia scored Aston Villa’s second goal after coming off the bench
Buendia had a sensational game and made a real case to start Villa’s next game
This is a lovely combination between Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendía… 😮💨
Watkins selflessly puts it on a plate for his teammate 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Jm9hloixJ8
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 13, 2022
Buendia looked fired up and quickly got into the action, setting up McGinn for a long-range effort that was blocked by Coady. The Argentine then released Ings and the cut-back was beyond Watkins, allowing Holgate to clear.
Vitalii Mykolenko kept Everton in it soon after with a goal-line clearance. When Digne’s cross was parried by Jordan Pickford, Buendia’s acrobatic follow-through clipped Coady and looped towards goal, where Mykolenko scored in time.
With 10 minutes to go, Lampard introduced £33million Andre Onana and also sent on Dele Alli.
But it didn’t have the required impact, as with five minutes remaining, Buendia played Watkins and continued his run to hit the pass back into an unguarded net.
Everton were awarded a consolation goal after ex-Toffee Digne scored an own goal
Lampard made his debut with £33m signing Andre Onana, who almost got the equaliser
That should have been it, but Onana, who had lost the ball just before Villa’s second, slotted past Diego Carlos and, as Digne and Iwobi tangled at the far post, the ball went into the net.
With Everton pushing forward, there were chances for Villa on the break. Another substitute, Leon Bailey, set up Watkins but Pickford closed the angle well.
Suddenly there was an opportunity one minute. On the left, Gordon beat Cash and when Martinez saved the shot, Mings got to the ball just past Salomon Rondon, who was setting up the equaliser. After trying to stop Gordon, Cash found himself limping and had to leave, while Carlos was also receiving treatment and was replaced as well. The man who came in, Calum Chambers, went to sleep in his own box, forcing Martinez into a fine save from Onana.
There were still opportunities. Chambers blocked a fierce effort from Gordon and then Martinez held out the young striker’s second attempt.
Dele Alli was also given a start and immediately found himself in the thick of the action
More to follow…
Relive the action via Sportsmail’s live blog for the Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Everton at Villa Park.