Aston Villa vs Everton – 2024/25
By Rob Carter
In a Word
Screamer
‘A goal scored from distance with a powerful strike.’ – Urban Dictionary
The Carter Report
Amidst the backdrop of protests against Champions League ticket prices and lengthy turnstile queues, Villa Park filled up on a warm September afternoon full of anticipation of the usual home win against Everton, perhaps with many anticipating a routine victory.
Routine, this was not.
Comeback Special
Despite dominating much of the first half, the home side found themselves two goals down following an opportunistic strike from Dwight McNeil and a straightforward header from Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The latter once again exposed Villa’s vulnerability to crosses into the box; with Tyrone Mings returning to training in the week, his aerial presence, which has been badly missed, is much needed.
Despite the deficit, the home crowed stayed with the team, and once Ollie Watkins had broken his duck for the season, there was anticipation on the concourses at half-time that three- points could still be on the cards.
Unai Emery’s half-time withdrawal of Amadou Onana, somewhat muted in the first half against his former club, and the replacement of the Belgian with Ross Barkley, proved pivotal. Barkley was excellent in the second half, driving the team forward, probing the Everton backline, and proving what a smart pick up he was in the summer from Luton.
Villa Park erupted as Watkins nabbed the equaliser, with the team then roared on to take maximum points. Everton were always a threat on the counter, with Calvert-Lewin spurning a couple of gilt-edged chances when one-on-one with Emi Martinez.
Cometh the Moment…
And then, entering from stage left, was the madcap Colombian.
Replacing Jacob Ramsey, Jhon Duran proved once again that he can be the man for the big occasion. With minimal backlift, and with no apparent danger to the Everton goal, he unleashed what can only be described as an absolute screamer from 30-yards out, which left England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford grasping at thin air as it rocketed past him into the top corner.
The roof very nearly came off the Holte End.
An extremely entertaining game (perhaps too entertaining at times) drew to a conclusion with the hosts hanging on to a valuable three points that reinforces Villa in the top-six.
As Villa’s first Champions League game looms on the horizon, the boys from Aston B6 can be confident of securing points in Switzerland when they travel to Young Boys in Bern. A tightening of the defence is necessary, with the imminent re-emergence of Mings and Boubacar Kamara potentially pivotal to the team’s ability to keep clean sheets in the weeks and months ahaed.
And when you have Duran, you always have the potential of chaos.
Value rating £40 (out of £43)
Scores are given based on a Zone 2 season ticket – the equivalent single ticket price for the game was £72.50
UTV
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