The nightmare that is 2019 continues as Aston Villa Football Club lose again. West Brom went into Villa Park and took all three points from two late first-half goals.
What’s new? Villa lost again.
Lineups & First-Half:
Dean Smith called upon the same system that has yet to work without Jack Grealish in the lineup. There were two changes as Ahmed Elmohamady and André Green came in for Albert Adomah and Anwar El Ghazi.
Team news: Two changes from midweek for #AVFC....@AndreGreen_ and @Elmo_27 come into the wide positions. 👊#PartOfThePride pic.twitter.com/iwk1PKVfsd
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 16, 2019
Villa started reasonably well as both sides were feeling each other out. However, the best chance fell to the Baggies when Tommy Elphick blocked a would-be goal from a tight angle. Similarly, Tyrone Mings cut out a streaking Jacob Murphy through on goal. Murphy’s first touch evaded him and Mings was able to slide the ball out of play (he was booked for dissent, though). Villa’s best chance came when Ahmed Elmohamady recovered a ball deep in the final third.
Elmo slid the ball to Tammy Abraham who was 1 v. 1 with former Villa ‘keeper Sam Johnstone. However, the first touch was poor and Johnstone was able to smother it.
West Brom struck first in the 41st-minute when Hal Robson-Kanu headed over Lovre Kalinic from an awkward angle. In all honesty, it should have been stopped. Moments later, Jay Rodriguez fired from distance for the second as the ball caromed off Tommy Elphick, and into the net.
Second-Half:
Villa were so lifeless and lacking in any real attacking plan after the break that they aren’t worth writing about.
The highlights include John McGinn getting booked, therefore missing the next two matches through suspension. Additionally, 17-year-old Jacob Ramsey made his senior debut for Conor Hourihane in the 61st-minute.
Lovre Kalinic went off injured at half-time.