Aston Villa 1-1 Ipswich Town: Player ratings, Villa get bit by Bruce-ball
By Josh Tonti
Jonathan Kodjia’s opening header would not prove to be the winner on Saturday. Via goalkeeper error, the Tractor Boys of Ipswich Town drew with Aston Villa at Portman Road 1-1
Playing down to ten men for 60-odd minutes, Ipswich Town somehow managed to keep Aston Villa off the scoreboard. Timid, weak, and awfully sloppy, Steve Bruce’s team dropped a needed two points in league play.
No way around it, this performance was an indictment of Steve Bruce. His appointed No. 1 flailed at a cross, resulting in the equalizer. His appointed centre-back partner for James Chester nearly threw the game away. His wingers struggled producing width while André Green sat on the bench. And finally, his lineup could not control possession against a below-average Championship team with ten men.
GK. Aston Villa. ORJAN NYLAND. 3.0. It’s early of course, but Ørjan Nyland has struggled with nearly every facet of goalkeeping through two matches. He’s been especially poor at claiming crosses and set pieces, while his handling under duress, and long passing have been horrendous as well. It’s almost a free possession to the opponents every time Nyland goes long.
Solid rebound outing at right-back after impressing centrally midweek. Axel Tuanzebe was a bit unfortunate to be replaced by Conor Hourihane on the 64th-minute (mostly a tactical sacrifice).. RB. Aston Villa. AXEL TUANZEBE. 6.0
6.5. The captain anchored Villa fairly well. Chester should have won a penalty about halfway through the first half.. RCB. Aston Villa. JAMES CHESTER
4.5. Mile Jedinak won an incredible 10 aerial duels, but he was absolutely terrible otherwise. Nearly allowed Ipswich to score on a mis-hit and conceded two poor fouls.. LCB. Aston Villa. MILE JEDINAK
LB. Aston Villa. ALAN HUTTON. 5.0. Not Alan’s best day. Hutton struggled on the left flank in the first-half and beginning of the second-half. Rebounded well late in the game, however. Ended on 63 touches and 73% passing accuracy.
4.5. Honest to goodness could not tell Birkir Bjarnason was on the pitch. The Iceland international didn’t cut passing lanes, allowed Ipswich runners through Zone 14, and was soundly taken off on 64 minutes.. CDM. Aston Villa. BIRKIR BJARNASON
5.5. The <strong>assist</strong> will get the headlines, but John McGinn’s game was that of two halves. Good first-half and an abysmal second-half knocks him down nearly two ratings. He completed 68% of his passes and was far too wasteful on a pair of chances after the break.. CM. Aston Villa. JOHN MCGINN
7.5. Aston Villa’s Man of the Match. Jack completed five key passes and drew six fouls in dangerous positions, including a yellow on Donacien.. CM. Aston Villa. JACK GREALISH
AHMED ELMOHAMADY. 5.0. Solid all-around ground game from Elmohamady, but there simply isn’t enough offense coming from him in a wing position. Switched over to right-back on the 64th-minute.. RM. Aston Villa
5.0. Albert was replaced by Rushian Hepburn-Murphy with thirteen minutes to play. He struggled defensively and didn’t really produce anything of note that was incisive.. LM. Aston Villa. ALBERT ADOMAH
CF. Aston Villa. JONATHAN KODJIA. 7.0. <strong>One goal</strong>, nearly another, 87% passing, and an overall menace outside the box: this was a solid outing from Jonathan Kodjia. He struggled in the last ten minutes, but we’ll let that slide. Needs to hold the offside runs and be a little calmer, however.
Brentford midweek awaits.