Aston Villa will undoubtedly be regretting their missed opportunity to secure crucial points in the Premier League after settling for a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Saturday.
The match proved to be a source of frustration for head coach Unai Emery. His Aston Villa squad had the chance to clinch victory by the 96th minute, but an untimely concession of a goal left them reeling. Following their Champions League triumph over Bologna, some speculated that Villa might struggle with fatigue in this match. However, that assumption was quickly proven incorrect.
The first half, particularly the opening 30 minutes, showcased Villa’s best performance at home this season, yet they failed to convert this dominance into goals. John McGinn did manage to find the back of the net, but VAR intervened, ruling the goal out as it was deemed that the ball had gone out of play prior to Ollie Watkins making the crucial pass to McGinn.
VAR played a pivotal role once again in the second half, this time dismissing Bournemouth’s appeals for a penalty after a challenge involving Antoine Semenyo. Semenyo was cautioned for diving following a tackle from Matty Cash, leading to various opinions on the decision, including commentary from Alan Shearer.
Shearer noted that it was “harsh” for Semenyo to receive a yellow card for diving and equally harsh not to award a penalty. The on-field referee initially waved off the Bournemouth appeals, and after a VAR review, the decision remained unchanged, despite the protests from the visiting team.
Shearer emphasized that Cash’s challenge did not make contact with the ball, stating, “I think Bournemouth have a cause for complaint. Cash doesn’t touch the ball; it’s Semenyo who makes contact first.” He argued that the decision to book Semenyo was unjust and that the lack of a penalty was equally questionable.
Amidst this controversy, some Villa supporters have voiced their discontent with Cash, feeling he should have been replaced during the summer transfer window. There were discussions about signing Lutsharel Geertruida, but the move did not materialize, raising questions about what Villa might do in the January transfer window.
Regardless of the criticism, Cash’s performance against Bournemouth received a rating of 6.81 from WhoScored. Had he conceded a penalty, that score would likely have plummeted. He faced a tough task containing Bournemouth’s attacking threats, and for future matches, it may be wise for Emery to consider deploying Ezri Konsa in that role to bolster the defense.
Ultimately, this draw leaves Villa with much to ponder as they navigate the remainder of the season, striving to maximize their points haul in the competitive landscape of the Premier League.