{"id":523231,"date":"2025-10-23T22:33:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T22:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/523231\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T22:33:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T22:33:16","slug":"john-townleys-aston-villa-player-ratings-as-4s-and-5s-awarded-after-shock-go-ahead-eagles-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/523231\/","title":{"rendered":"John Townley’s Aston Villa player ratings as 4s and 5s awarded after shock Go Ahead Eagles defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"

John Townley’s Aston Villa player ratings after Unai Emery’s side lose 2-1 at Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League<\/p>\n

19:44, 23 Oct 2025Updated 19:56, 23 Oct 2025<\/p>\n

\"John<\/p>\n

Our dedicated Aston Villa reporter is always on the pulse of all things claret and blue, from major talking points to transfer news to match action, John Townley will bring you the very latest from Bodymoor Heath and Villa Park.<\/p>\n

\"EmiEmi Buendia missed a penalty in Aston Villa’s defeat at Go Ahead Eagles<\/p>\n

Aston Villa fell to a shock defeat against Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League, losing 2-1 at De Adelaarshorst.<\/p>\n

Evann Guessand<\/a> opened the scoring within the first four minutes, before Villa<\/a> were pegged back by Mathis Suray. Mats Deijl then completed the comeback for the hosts. Late in the game, Emi Buendia<\/a> had a chance to level the score but missed a penalty, sending the ball over the bar.<\/p>\n

Go Ahead Eagles came close to taking the lead early on, as Granit Nauber\u2019s effort from close range was turned over after he was picked out inside the box.<\/p>\n

Shortly after, Amadou Onana found Jadon Sancho down the left. The Manchester United loanee crossed into the box, and goalkeeper Jari De Busser misjudged the ball, allowing Guessand to bundle it into the net.<\/p>\n

The Ivorian should have been credited with an assist moments later when De Busser gave the ball away while trying to play out from the back. Guessand then found Ollie Watkins, but his tame effort was saved.<\/p>\n

Sancho continued to cause problems down the left. In the 10th minute, he wriggled into the box, before Emi Buendia\u2019s shot was saved from inside the area.<\/p>\n

Guessand had another chance to double both his and Villa\u2019s tally in the 29th minute when Buendia played him through, but De Busser denied him again.<\/p>\n

Suray punished Villa for missing several chances to extend their lead by finishing a set-piece move just minutes before half-time.<\/p>\n

Deijl completed the comeback for the Dutch side on the hour mark, running in behind the Villa defence and finding the bottom corner.<\/p>\n

Matty Cash, who came off the bench, won a penalty for Villa after his cross struck Dean James\u2019 hand, but Buendia blasted the ball over the bar.<\/p>\n

Player ratings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Emi Martinez<\/strong> Martinez made his first Europa League appearance of the season after missing previous games against Bologna and Feyenoord. There was little he could do to stop Suray\u2019s looping shot, and he was also beaten by Deijl in the second half. 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Victor Lindelof<\/strong> Lindelof made his first start for Villa this evening, operating at right-back. Struggled to make an impact going forward, though right-back is not his strongest position. 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tyrone Mings<\/strong> It\u2019s unusual for Mings to play alongside another left-sided centre-back in Pau Torres, but he returned after missing three games with an ankle injury. He didn\u2019t look comfortable at times, and Villa were vulnerable defensively. 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pau Torres<\/strong> Torres should have been more aggressive in blocking Suray\u2019s shot as he was the closest Villa player to the ball – it then deflected off him and looped over Martinez. Deijl then ran behind him and Maatsen for Go Ahead Eagles\u2019 second goal. Completed 62 of the 65 passes he attempted. 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ian Maatsen<\/strong> Maatsen has started all three of Villa\u2019s European games this season, making his fifth start in all competitions tonight. He can be a threat in the final third, but his defending still needs improvement. Deijl ran across him and behind Torres before scoring. 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lamare Bogarde<\/strong> Bogarde returned to the starting XI after Onana was preferred to partner Boubacar Kamara. He was on the receiving end of a nasty challenge from Granit Nauber, but the Go Ahead Eagles defender came off worse and left the pitch on a stretcher. 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amadou Onana<\/strong> Onana continued in the heart of midfield, playing in a double pivot with Bogarde. He played the ball to Sancho, who then crossed for Guessand to bundle in the opener. 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Evann Guessand<\/strong> Guessand is clearly impressing Emery in his first months at Villa. He scored his first goal for the club today but should have doubled both his and Villa\u2019s tally after being played through by Buendia. He scored early on, but missed a one-on-one and was largely ineffective after. 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Emi Buendia<\/strong> Fresh from scoring the winner against Tottenham, Buendia started tonight. Played Guessand through in the first half, though the forward couldn\u2019t beat De Busser. Buendia missed a penalty, which would have put Villa on level terms. 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jadon Sancho<\/strong> Sancho started for the second time as a Villa player, operating in the left 10 role. He made an early impact, crossing for Guessand to score, and later wriggled into the box before Buendia\u2019s shot was blocked. 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ollie Watkins<\/strong> After making a brilliant impact off the bench against Spurs, Watkins led the line tonight. He missed a big chance to make it 2-0 just minutes after Guessand\u2019s goal, and was nowhere near his best. 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

SUBS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Morgan Rogers (for Sancho, 67′), Matty Cash (for Lindelof, 67′), Boubacar Kamara (for Onana, 67′), Donyell Malen (for Watkins, 67′), John McGinn (for Bogarde, 76′).<\/p>\n

Subs not used: <\/strong>Bizot, Proctor, Konsa, Elliott.<\/p>\n

GOALS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Go Ahead Eagles: <\/strong>Suray (42′), Deijl (61′)<\/p>\n

Villa:<\/strong> Guessand (4′)<\/p>\n

What did you make of Villa’s performance? Tell us here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a>\"Content<\/p>\n

Various<\/p>\n

Fanatics<\/p>\n

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Every day, the BirminghamLive football desk strive to deliver all manner of news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Aston Villa content.<\/p>\n

Our dedicated reporter John Townley – who you can follow on X by clicking here<\/a> – follows Villa home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.<\/p>\n

So much happens day to day and sometimes you can struggle to keep on top of the very latest updates as and when they occur – that’s why we have produced a daily newsletter which you can sign up to, for free, and which means you’ll have a round-up of the key stories land in your email inbox. Sign up to the Villa newsletter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also get all your favourite content from BirminghamLive’s Villa team on WhatsApp. Click here<\/a> to sign up for breaking updates about the biggest stories in and around the club.<\/p>\n

If you prefer reading our Villa stories on your phone, consider downloading the BirminghamLive app, in which you can personalise the content you see by selecting Villa as one of your designated topics. You can get it from Apple here<\/a> and for Android here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our weekly Aston Villa podcast, Claret And Blue, is also available to watch and listen on all major streaming services. You can subscribe to the YouTube channel here<\/a>, while you can access the podcast on Spotify here<\/a> and via Apple here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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