Aston Villa 0-1 Everton: Hosts miss chance to close gap on Arsenal
Villa's 11-game winning streak at home was ended by the Toffees
Aston Villa missed the chance to close the gap behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League as they suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Everton.
Thierno Barry’s delicate chip after errors from Pau Torres and Emiliano Martinez proved the difference in a tight game at Villa Park as Unai Emery’s men lost at home for only the second time this season, with the loss also ending an 11-game winning run at their home ground.
The defeat leaves Villa in third as they failed to capitalise on points dropped by Manchester City and Arsenal this weekend, with Everton climbing into the top half.
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Both sides hit the woodwork in first half
Everton nearly went ahead straight from kick-off when a long ball forward found it’s way to Merlin Rohl, whose shot beat Emiliano Martinez but bounced back off the post withy only 10 seconds on the clock.
Villa settled and looked to assert control, with their first chance coming to Morgan Rogers who couldn’t keep his shot down after Emiliano Buendia had squared the ball across goal.
John McGinn went off injured in a huge blow for the hosts and it coincided with a good period of pressure by Everton, with ex-Villa hero Jack Grealish going close on his return to Villa Park.
The Toffees had the ball in the back of the net just after the half-hour mark when Jake O’Brien headed home but the goal was harshly ruled out due to Harrison Armstrong being offside as the cross came in.
Villa immediately went up the other end and forced two quickfire chances, both through Rogers, who saw his shot from Ian Maatsen’s pull back blocked by O’Brien from close range before he forced Jordan Pickford into action from long range.
Evann Guessand then went agonisingly close for Villa when he looped a header over Pickford and onto the bar as Villa cranked up the pressure before the end of the half.
Barry stuns Villa Park
Villa made a bright start to the half with Youri Tielemans just unable to get his header on target after some nice build-up from the hosts.
But it was Everton who went ahead when Dwight McNeil picked up a loose ball and tried his luck at Martinez, who spilled the shot into the bath of Barry. The striker delightfully chipped the ball over the Villa keeper to put the Toffees ahead.
Rogers struggled to keep his shots down throughout the game and he was guilty of spooning two more over the bar as Villa tried to level the game.
His effort a few minutes later was much better, with his curling effort heading for the top corner before Pickford brilliantly tipped the ball over.
Villa continued to push but struggled to really threaten, with Buendia flashing a header across goal before referee brought the game to a close.