A difficult game where Beto could have had a hat-trick | OneFootball

Everton 0 - 0 Aston Villa

Everton found it really difficult to extend their early-season winning run when goalless Aston Villa thwarted every Blues move at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday. But Beto was Everton's bete noir for his clumsy awkward missed chances.

No great surprises in the Everton line-up (apart from Nathan Patterson on the bench!), with Iliman Ndiaye declared fit to start after a little scare. In defence, Michael Keane is making his 200th Premier League appearance for the club, while Beto leads the attack.

Mykolenko is injured so James Garner drops back into the left-back slot, with Jake O'Brien continuing at right-back.

Jack Grealish and Tim Iroegbunam take the field against their former club, while Lucas Digne starts for Villa, but Onana is out injured.

First Half

The Villains kicked off... sort of, with Martinez standing on the ball for 15 seconds... Everton pushed forward first and Ndiaye played in Beto but the big man tripped over his own feet with the goal gaping and the ball squirmed behind, with Mings going down and needing treatment before he returned.

Villa's main ploy was to deny possession to Everton but that failed and Everton tried to work it in, Grealish very active, winning the ball back and clipping it up to the back post where Beto had strayed offside. A brilliant ball forward from Tarkowski was perfect for Beto to receive behind the Villa defence but he made a total mess of it.

A free-kick wide left was sent in by Dewsbury-Hall but Michael Keane headed over.

From a good position, wide left, with Grealish pressing, Everton worked it all the way back to Pickford, then forward for a long throw-in wide right. Ndiaye skipped forward down the right channel, his cross defended for a throw-in. That was delivered in well, Beto's shot blocked before Grealish fired at Martinez, the ensuing corner drawing a foul on Martinez.

Villa looked dangerous when Digne overlapped down the left, his cross headed away by O'Brien. Another brilliant ball played forward straight to Beto#s feet was immediately lost and Tarkowski was called for a perfectly good tackle on Rogers.

Grealish worked for a corner this time that Martinez did well to paw away. It allowed Villa ot mount an attack but they got themselves offside. Still, Everton found it hard to play out until Grealish was fouled.

Buendia somehow got a free-kick off Ndiaye, who redeemed himself, drawing a foul off Digne by denying him the ball. An Everton long throw fro Garner almost caused havoc but Martinez stole the ball off Keane's boot.

Another push forward saw Grealish win another corner, Keane at the near post but it was too high for him. Grealish drew a challenge from Cash that won him the first yellow card.

A decent Everton attack was affected by memorial applause in the crowd and Villa got forward as a result, a shot fortunately blocked. It was a pretty competitive game with Villa looking increasingly threatening when they were allowed to advance.

Some great forward play by Ndiaye was spoilt by an overhit cross that Grealish tried to return but it was cleared and Villa surged forward again. Keane had to give away their first corner, Everton cleared but with no one upfield.

The Everton counter did eventually win a corner, the ball shanked behind by Bigarde, that somehow squirmed off Teilemans's knee and just wide for a second corner. Garner played it to Gana in space and he felt he just had to take one of his awful wasteful shots way off-target.

Ndiaye lost the ball and Iroegbunam fouled Watkins from behind, drawing a yellow card for a dangerous free-kick but Digne could only hit the blue wall and that was pretty much it for a challenging first half in which Everton had come close but not close enough to scoring.

Second Half

It was equally competitive going into the second half, with Tielemans replaced.

A fantastic ball in from Garner was again perfect for \ Beto to convert... but somehow it squirmed past him and wide of the far post. Just incredible how that one was not converted.

Greaslish and Dewsbury-Hall rather overplayed it -- why not just hit it instead of again playing in Beto for no real end product? At the other end, a great run and a deflected shot by Buendia that just curled inches beyond the far post also.

Villa surged forward again and Tarkowski had to play it behind as Villa took the initiative. Cash's corner caused panic but Digne's shot to the far corner was caught well by Pickford. Another Villa attack was thwarted but the Blues struggled to advance themselves until Digne fouled Ndiaye.

Dewsbury-Hall took the deep free-kick, which was poor but it came through to Beto and yet again, he failed to hammer it at goal and the chance was gone in a flash. A great pullback from Watkins picked out Buendia who set himself for an acrobatic strike but Iroegbunam did brilliantly to block him without conceding a penalty.

Great determination by Dewsbury-Hall won the ball high up, his cross/shot parried by Martinez out to O'Brienas Digne git hurt in the melee, O'Brien's shot blocked, Ireogbunam's deflected well wide. The corner taken after Digne was removed for treatment, and going out of play.

Iroegbunam was replaced by Röhl, Everton seriously deficient in midfield. Grealsih was trying his tricks and seemed to be fouled by Guessand but Simon Hoper saw it differently. Then Buendia saw yellow for his awful tackle from behind on Ndiaye.

Some real magic from Grealish, a wonderful header from Michael Keane and an absolutely brilliant save from Martinez to deny him. Evertion tried to spring a decent move from a corner but Ndiaye was thwarted and a goal kick given rather than a corner.

Everton had done a lot better since Rohl came on and finally Barry replaced by Beto, who quite frankly had been hopeless.

The fraught and fractious nature of the game continued unabated, Ndiaye stopping Elliott from shooting. Digne's free-kick was well taken by Pickford as Watkins powered in on him. Grealish tried again but his book of tricks did not include beating three men at once, after holding it for too long.

Guessand fouled Dewsbury-Hall. Rohl tried a shot from way out but he was even worse than Idrissa Gana Gueye! Villa attacked but overhit their final pass.

Ndiaye beat himself with one of his own pirouettes and Villa attacked again with the minutes tcking away. But RRohl got the ball through to Barry who was marshalled well, his shot pushed wide.

Fron the corner, Grealish played it back for Garner who drilled it but this time it was deflected high.  More Grealish magic from the corner, Keane flinging himself but not enough contact to get his header on target.

In to 5 minutes of added time, Everton tried again, Grealish again closed down quickly. Barry and Konsa chased down a ball but Barry couldn't stop himself grabbing a handful of shirt.

A really difficult game, 19 efforts but only 2 on target, but no goals.

Everton:  Pickford, O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Garner, Gana, Iroegbunam [Y:45+1'] (66' Röhl), Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall [Y;66'], Grealish [Y;69'], Beto (75' Barry).

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash [Y:33'], Konsa, Mings, Digne [Y:57[, McGinn, Tielemans (46' Guessand), Buendia [Y:71'] (71' Elliott), Watkins, Bogarde, Rogers.

Subs: Bizot, Proctor, Lindelof, Torres, Malen, Sancho, Maatsen.

Attendance: 52,114

Reader Comments (84)

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Mike Hayes 2 Posted 13/09/2025 at 13:59:12

Looking good with options in the bench let’s get another win at home and the three points. Off to see the women at the old lady tomorrow 💙

Kevin Molloy 3 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:10:28

letting Young go felt daft at the time, and so it has proven. Having to move Garner there is such a loss to the midfield.

Christy Ring 4 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:15:46

Agree with Kevin, it's ridiculous we have to move Garner out if his proper position where he was immense against Wolves. If Aznou is fit enough for bench, why not start him?

Terry Farrell 5 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:26:59

Illi ndiye starts made my day!

Rob Hooton 6 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:27:50

I can see why Moyes has done it, the same team beat Brighton. Aznou was a doubt, so perhaps on the bench in case of emergency (or to get a run out if it’s going well).

Ashley Young did a good job for us, but he’s past this level now, it was time to part - perhaps he also just wants to play football, and we would rarely use him? He likely recognised his own limitations.

Bill Griffiths 7 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:37:55

While I can understand to some extent the argument that it was better not to sign someone for the sake of it I find it impossible to believe they couldn't find anyone suitable to fill in temporarily.Hope I 'm wrong but I think that the failure to sign a right back and left back will come back to haunt us this season.

Dave Abrahams 8 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:38:12

I wouldn’t have Iroegbunam in centre midfield while I had a much better player playing out of position where his lack of pace is likely to be exposed, we were lucky to beat Brighton on the day maybe we will get away with it today and that will suit me but James Garner is a midfield player not a full back and we have the same problem in the right back position.Alls well that ends well so hoping for a win.

Si Cooper 9 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:41:28

It wasn’t letting Young go that was the problem, it was any failings in recruitment that have followed.

I disagree that Garner is absolutely irreplaceable in a midfield berth and so cannot be used as the utility player he is.

I do agree with Dave Abrahams that there may be other reasons for not exposing him at left back.

I am more concerned about still relying on our slowest central defensive pairing. It can be argued that the first Wolves goal was precisely due to that problem.

I know Tarks is a warrior and Keane has not done much wrong, but pace is their limiting factor.

As the Villa team isn’t published here I’ve had to look elsewhere. Fortunately it looks like, out of their starters, Watkins and possibly Rogers are their only really pacey attackers (at least I don’t associate Buendia, McGinn or Tielemans with speed across the ground, but I don’t know about Bogarde).

Maybe lack of pace is Villa’s current problem? If it is, I withdraw my initial concern. If we get a goal early on to prey on their anxiety I think we could break our recent hoodoo against them quite comfortably.

Come on you merciless Blues!

Terry Farrell 11 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:43:35

Dave with respect Tim ain't slow!

Si Cooper 12 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:50:06

Terry, I take it as Dave is talking about Garner’s relative (lack of) speediness.

Dave Abrahams 13 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:53:34

Terry (11)

I was referring to Garner's pace to be honest, but in central midfield that is not essential as long as you've got a football brain which I think Garner has got and uses it very well.

Not being too hard on Iroegbunam but I don't think he is ready yet and would have preferred it if he had gone on loan and Harrison Armstrong had stayed and played today for us instead of being on the bench at Preston — but it's early days and a long season, so maybe patience will tell.

Iain Crawford 14 Posted 13/09/2025 at 14:55:55

Not ideal at all Garner at left-back, but Anzou must not be ready.

I think we will leak a goal today, but have the players to score two or more. Everton 2 Villa 1. COYBLUES!

Paul Kossoff 15 Posted 13/09/2025 at 15:00:57

Why is Coleman not playing? Desperate times with no full-backs and Moyes has his mate sitting on the bench. Has Coleman not asked why he's not on the pitch?

Villa, no goals and no wins, and a sly dirty little fucking ex-Red playing for them, what can go wrong? Coyb.

Ernie Baywood 16 Posted 13/09/2025 at 15:51:47

We're missing someone in midfield who can control the game. Villa do have one, so they're controlling the midfield.

The best option we have is at left back. And I'm not convinced he's a better emergency left back than McNeil.

It's a mistake and one that's already been made this season. It didn't need to happen again.

Why is Digne being booed?

Alan J Thompson 17 Posted 13/09/2025 at 15:56:08

We should have scored at least one and the first about 2 minutes in and it seems strange to say it but Beto's feet seem to have gotten in the way.

It took Villa 15 minutes to get an attack into our half but thereafter seem to attack more than we did and then Villa seemed to find a way to negate Ndiaye and Grealish and this stopped nearly all our attacking intent.

Terry Farrell 18 Posted 13/09/2025 at 15:59:31

Fair dos lads I misread what you meant re Tim and Garner. Ndiye is breathtaking!

Paul Kossoff 19 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:03:25

No live forum and no goals. Surely Beto has to be taken off, come on Moyes make a move.

Beto has just missed another sitter, three minutes in, come on, for fk sake!!!

Near a Villa goal, we need to score quickly now as Villa are dangerous.

We need these three points as we ain't gettin nothin next week against the red shite. Very low running at us now with pace, if we don't score in the next twenty, then I fear.

Paul Kossoff 20 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:16:25

Villa now running at us with pace I meant. Villa coming into the game with confidence, no subs. Possibly put on Barry and bang in the crosses. Dibling off the bench will cause Villa problems. Beto again the ball bounces off him with poor control and decisions. Villa having better play now. Röhl on Timmy off,will Röhl play an attacking Röhl?

Paul Kossoff 21 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:21:19

Should have scored, corner. Keeper dropped the ball, O'Brian shot but deflected. Yellow cards for Hall and Grealish. Another yellow, nasty tackle on Jack and a card for villa. Reds nasty get Elliot on for villa. Missed Keane header fantastic save from Mr M.

Paul Kossoff 22 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:32:43

Can't believe Beto is still on, the old last ten minutes sub then is it? Desperate times now, blimey Barry on for Mr bungles.

Paul Kossoff 23 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:36:25

We have run out of ideas now, villa winning all the second balls, no press from us, villa will see the game is for the taking and seem to have nullified our forwards.

Paul Kossoff 24 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:45:00

We aren't creating anything now, poor second half, villa making more subs, we are reluctant to shoot, time running out, if Watkins is playing he must be in disguise.Barry not had a touch, didn't look like Dibling will come on with seven minutes to go. Grealish out of ideas against his old club. Play like this against that lot and it will be good night Vienna. Should I say it? A points a point. Tactics not working at all, takes off a big forward and puts another one on, same experiment,will it work?

Paul Kossoff 25 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:53:40

Keane header wide, three minutes left. Can't see a goal for us sadly, we have lost the plot. Villa,no wins no goals,

Motd or a film? Where is Arnie and Rambo when you need a bit of steel? Final minute. Refs been poor, times up, points a point.

Game over, played first half great, Beto should have given us all three points,not good enough from him. Tried hard, but villa sorted us out second half. I'll take a repeat score line next game.

Andy Crooks 26 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:56:04

For the love of fuck, Paul Kossoff. In the name if God wind your fucking neck in and have a day off.

Dan Parker 27 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:56:39

A difficult watch, not the best but we lost many games at stalemate like that last season. Keane has been outstanding so far this season.

Rod Harrington 28 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:57:27

Well said Andy.

Paul Kossoff 29 Posted 13/09/2025 at 16:58:12

Andy, FK OFf you miserable twa. Ring my neck in? You are taking the piss mate, your tea served cold today was it. Miserable get. Always one fker to spoil the day. Jeeeez!!!

Dave Williams 30 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:02:49

If that’s the best you can do Paul you should go elsewhere to sound off.

Alan McGuffog 31 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:03:25

Thank God we were able to strike a deal to bring Dibling in.

Robert Tressell 32 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:04:21

TBH Paul, I thought you were doing a good job as a one man live forum. Very frustrating game. We're definitely plenty better than last season - but we're still v much a work in progress. I know Moyes could have done things differently but he's still limited by the quality available. Beto should have won that match for us really. Annoying, but we'll have days when we play worse than that and win.

Colin Glassar 33 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:06:31

We only need another 33 points to be safe. Decent game, we just need a goalscorer

Tom Bowers 34 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:06:58

No goals against today which is sound against he likes of Rogers and Watkins but we need offense and I like Beto but he has deficiencies for a Premiership ''scorer''.Not sure of the answer at the moment with what we have.

Moyes has to sort that out soon. We were poor against Leeds however today they played well in the first half but the Villa defense held our offense without too much difficulty. It could be a difficult ride until January unless Moyes get's the right offensive prowess.

Jim Bennings 35 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:07:27

Point is a point against a decent albeit out of form Aston Villa.

Sadly the striker situation which I was so concerned about all summer will probably be the main reason why we fail to win many games that we are on top in and creating chances.

Neither Beto nor Barry fill me with too much confidence that they will possess the necessary firepower go shoot us higher up in the long term.

Kevin Naylor 36 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:08:16

Put Keane up front once Jarred's back, surely cant be any worse than what we currently have. Great header today only foiled by an even greater save.

Alan J Thompson 37 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:08:57

Second half started as per the first half with Beto not making the best of a chance. Villa seemed to stop Grealish and Ndiaye mostly by having 2 or 3 players on them and we had nobody else who could use the gaps that should have created and maybe Moyes could have moved one or the other inside or played both on one wing just to change things or is that asking too much of our manager. Even then I thought that Beto and Iroegbunam should have been subbed on the hour but Barry seemed little improvement on Beto albeit a lot of our supply had dried up by then.

At best, another game another point that maybe should have been three as Villa were not that impressive either.

Lee Courtliff 38 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:10:13

Difficult game, the lack of a LB really hinders us and we lose Jimmy in CM. I agree with the previous poster who said McNeil would probably be as good at LB as JG is.

Still, a much better start tothe season than previous years and another clean sheet. Michael Keane really deserves to keep his place when JB is back.

And thanks to everyone who posted links on the live forum.

Paul Kossoff 39 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:10:40

I happily relaid the commentary from Merseyside today Incase anyone didn't have the game on, for some unknown reason some miserable twat decided that because he was sitting on the toilet and realised no toilet paper and he's got real and verbal diarrhea, decides to take it out on a fellow blue. Iim sorry you are such a miserable cnt Andrew, go lie down in a darkened room, and stay there as long as possible, you would be doing us a favour. Oh and take Rodney with you.

Ernie Baywood 40 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:11:26

Was always going to struggle to live up to the expectation built up during the international break.

Villa are a very good side. 3 games in is no kind of sample size. We've done well to hold them to zero chances and create a fair amount ourselves.

I thought Grealish was good again. But Villa did what they could and pulled 2 back onto him. And we didn't seem to adjust to that. Our midfield looked happy to give it to him and hope he would create something.

We had a lack of control and desperately needed a central midfielder to dictate the play a bit.

Tim's performance wasn't unexpected. It was pretty much what you get out of him and wasn't what we needed. That's not on Tim, that's on Moyes.

Good to get a look at Rohl. On first glance I'd say he's more a ball winner than playmaker.

Oliver Molloy 41 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:12:10

Andy Crook @ 26 - that made me laugh "for the love of fuck" ",but agree with Paul @ 25 - Beto should have scored - Vardy would have !!

Mihir Ambardekar 42 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:12:13

Beto wasted many chances. I like him but he should have scored at-least one. We were the better side but not good enough in final third.

Steve Brown 43 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:12:51

xG of 2.12 v 0.31, 20 shots, 0-0. We need a striker.

We dominated them first half and should have gone in 2-0 up. They had a spell in the second half but we then took over again. They had to double up on Grealish but he still created chances; KDH very good and Gana immense.

I thought Michael Keane was excellent.

Christy Ring 44 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:13:15

Could have put Ndiaye up front and Dibling on the wing, Beto could have had a hat-trick, if he hadn't two left feet. I hope Mykolenko is fit for next week, and play Garner in his proper position.

Kevin Molloy 45 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:13:25

Barry will take a couple of months to properly settle but will then be first choice. At that point we will also see a lot more of Dibling, Garner will be in his proper position, and we'll have Jarrad and Myko back. that was a makeshift defence, and Tim is definitely not in our first choice 11 when we've got our players back. Not a bad point, villa can go anywhere and get a point, esp with that goalie

Michael Kenrick 46 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:13:59

Beto could have had a hat-trick... Keane could have had a hat-trick... Both failed... but for very different reasons.

Villa knew exactly how to stall Grealish, and succeeded 85% of the time. He did vary his playbook... but not quite enough, and not until way too late in the game.

Only two subs... why not give Alcaraz and Dibling a go? Play Aznou to allow Garner to step up into midfield? Use Coleman or Patterson.

Moyes sees the game on a knife-edge and is too shit-scared to make a change that risks winning as much as losing the game... so he leaves it as is. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Si Cooper 47 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:16:45

No visuals of the game so reliant on OS commentary and Sky updates.Seemed like we pretty much dominated but couldn’t convert the small number of good chances we were able to fashion.Did Pickford have anything to do? Martinez definitely made at least one excellent save and sounded like they got some important blocks in as well.The selection was quite conservative at the back. Did that affect our overall creativity? Did we give Villa too much respect?We didn’t use potential goal-scoring threats like Alcaraz or McNeil and left Garner at full-back. It’s a tricky choice by the manager but would it have been better to risk the one point we had in the bag by really going for the three?Left with one point, a clean sheet, and still unbeaten in games that count at BMD, but lots of ifs, buts and maybes as well.

Andy Crooks 48 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:17:37

Wow, Paul. I normally like your stuff, but you've hurt my feelings. Heading to darkened room now.Didn't get what you were doing, by the way

Bill Gall 49 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:18:28

On a positive note we never lost, and just 1 pt is better than none

Oliver Molloy 50 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:19:17

Every team doubles up on Grealish, even when he was at man city

Alan McGuffog 51 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:20:24

I feel that everyone of us wants Beto to come good. He just seems that sort of character that is very likeable.The thing is he's bloody useless as a footballer.

Sean Kearns 52 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:21:53

Same team next week against the shite except swap Tim for Roehl… Beto is much better than Barry. Beto hastles, creates some chances with his effort and seems to get a lot of good chances ( he misses some but so do all strikers) I appreciate that Beto gets into those positions in the first place. Barry does NON of that. He actually did fuck all when he came on and I wasn’t impressed… Barry doesn’t even get into positions to miss chances. Beto is super physical and always muscles opposing players out of the way to find the ball. Bazza looks well and truly useless

Steve Brown 53 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:22:58

Michael, I thought Moyes could have tried rotating Ndiaye and Grealish occasionally to give them something to think about.

They were doubling up on Grealish, which should have given us space elsewhere. But we simply kept giving it to Jack rather than taking on responsibility elsewhere.

Mark Boullé 54 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:23:03

It really baffles me, in a tight game where we're struggling to break a team down, that 3 out of the permitted 5 subs aren't used.

What must Dibling, a £40m attacking player, be thinking? He can't be said not to be ready for this division, he played nearly a full Premier league season last year. We could have tried McNeil on the left, Grealish on the right, Ndiaye or Dibling through the middle...

So many options, finally, what Moyes always wanted, and he doesn't use them! Maddening, we really should have won that game against a villa side showing no ambition whatsoever!

A word for Simon Hooper - that was one of the most incompetent refereeing displays I've ever watched. Maybe only the Clattenburg derby was worse.

Andy Crooks 55 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:24:02

Sean, saying that Beto is much better than Barry, pretty much sums up our problem. Because Beto is awful.

Sean Kearns 56 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:25:07

I agree, it’s the lesser of the evils. But Beto’s goal record isn’t terrible and he gets into so many good positions which also lead to corners or at least gets the crowd up more.

Oliver Molloy 57 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:27:10

Alan, I agree with you - we all like him as a person and all Evertonains want ALL our players to shine.

Alan McGuffog 58 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:31:52

Aye aye aye ayeBeto is better than BarryThe Straq was better than Bernie WrightAnd Yakubu my daughter could marry

Mike Allison 59 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:34:37

Seems to have been a decent performance but it’s really, really poor from Moyes not to make more substitutions to try something different.

Coming off at 0-0 with Alcaraz, Dibling and McNeil all having sat on the bench for the entire match is a failure on his part.

Villa are a good team, it’s a long season and this isn’t a terrible result, but it feels like we didn’t even try everything we could to win. This is the second manager running where it always feels like every opposition manager is better at substitutions than he is.

Steve Brown 60 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:35:34

Jimmy Garner actually laughed when Beto bungled the chance he created with his cross in the second half.

The second clear cut chance he messed up in front of goal because he couldn’t sort his feet out. He was really poor.

I have no idea why the Moyes left him on so long, but then I thought the manager was too passive in tactics and replacements second half.

Kieran Kinsella 61 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:36:50

Villa are ageing but very savvy. Defended well double teamed Grealish, broke up play. Frustrating to watch but we’ve played that way many times in recent years so they’ll feel they deserved a point. But if we had a half decent striker we would have won. But finishing apart lots of positives in overall game play.

Derek Knox 63 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:57:09

A Hat Trick ? He wouldn't even find his head, unless he looked up his own arse !

Why he wasn't subbed earlier is another strange decision. However looking on the positive side, so nearly a win !

Tony Heron 64 Posted 13/09/2025 at 17:59:50

While I fully appreciate the need to protect young players, I look at the young lads that have featured for Liverpool and Arsenal, and then I think, have we not got a youngster who could do a job equal to, if not better, than our 2 "strikers (!)" ?

Dan Parker 65 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:03:04

We’ve got to Röhl with it, we’ve got to take our time.

Kevin Naylor 66 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:11:06

Moyes will get sacked if we don't finish top half at least imo. These owners are far more ruthless than Kenwright and co so he cant let too many of games like these get away without 3 points.

Dave Abrahams 67 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:25:22

I thought Everton wasted a lot of possession in the second half and Dewsbury Hall was disappointing as well as giving three stupid fouls away, just two subs made with the obvious ones coming off and why Alcaraz wasn’t brought on instead of Rolp, who is still finding his way in England, with the score 0-0, he needs to make his way when we are 2or3 nil up.

I’m not too upset with the score because I think a lot of fans have over hyped the previous games, we will get better in time but need a better and bigger squad before that happens as well as being more adventurous especially at home. Tarkowski my man of the match for what it’s worth!

Jerome Shields 68 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:28:53

Mykolenko missing in defence was always going limit Everton. But they did get forward better than against Leeds and chances were provided.Though Villa had done their homework, as opposition teams are sure to do in the Premier league

Thought Moyes could have brought on Subs earlier and subbed a few more to try to win the game, but Moyes will always play safe.Really need to be able to adjust and changes tactics during the game .

Hope Mykolenko is back for the next game.

John Charles 69 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:37:20

Just back from the game. We battered them and should have won by at least 2 clear goals.Beto, Beto, Beto.. wtf?Not the biggest Garner fan but thought he played well.Another day and we are all singing the blues.

John Charles 70 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:39:48

Röhl settled in well without disrupting the whole shape of the team. Barry is as worrying as Beto.

John Charles 71 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:39:50

Röhl settled in well without disrupting the whole shape of the team. Barry is as worrying as Beto.

Rob Jones 72 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:44:17

What a weird game. Total contrast to the Brighton game, which we won by two but could have lost. This one we drew and I think 4-0 would have flattered Aston Villa. A mix of poor finishing and Emi Martinez doing what so many keepers do to us.

I'm far more encouraged by the performance today than the one we watched against Brighton before the international break. We're a striker away from being a really, really good team.

Rob Jones 73 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:44:20

What a weird game. Total contrast to the Brighton game, which we won by two but could have lost. This one we drew and I think 4-0 would have flattered Aston Villa. A mix of poor finishing and Emi Martinez doing what so many keepers do to us.

I'm far more encouraged by the performance today than the one we watched against Brighton before the international break. We're a striker away from being a really, really good team.

Andy Crooks 74 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:44:21

Paul Kossoff, I hadn't a clue you were actually relaying a commentary. It makes the posts I commented on quite intriguing.I apologise, Paul, for my response.

Rob Hooton 75 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:46:43

I thought we generally played well and deserved to win the game, we certainly tried to!

We’ll likely have to wait until next summer for a new striker, so we have what we have. There were more important positions to fill this summer and we’ve filled those well (RB aside, though I thought Jake had a great game).

Michael Keane was magnificent, read everything well and was very unlucky not to score a goal or two. Branthwaite won’t just walk back into the team at this rate, which is a good thing IMO.

Grealish should have more space next week, the other lot will be more focused on attacking us. Villa defended well and doubled/tripled up on him and Ndiaye - Ndiaye had some exceptional moments once again and we’ll do well to hold onto him, he’s electric and just ghosts past players gracefully.

Still no goals conceded at our new home, a positive given we’re yet to have our first choice defence available.

Got to be positive, let’s get a jammy win next week with the winner off Beto’s arse!

Scott Hamilton 76 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:49:18

Currently sat in the Tai Pan Chinese restaurant near the ground, waiting for my main course (we tried to get an Uber but gave up).

Best 0-0 I’ve seen for years. Should’ve won 2-0 or better but let’s just enjoy the performance. We need a centre forward as Beto should’ve scored at least twice. Otherwise, everyone played well and we attacked right until the final whistle. Merlin Rohl looked epic.

UTFT!!!!

Steve Cotton 77 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:52:18

The ref was at least consistent.. don't think he gave us much at all but couldn't wait to blow if a villa player hit the dirt...

Kunal Desai 78 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:53:49

Frustrating as we were worthy of the 3 points today. By and large we controlled the 90 minutes. I guess having that cutting edge up front is the difference from being a top 6/7 side which we all know is work in progress. For now it's Beto and Barry, we can hopefully look for Betos upgrade next summer.

Positives are 4 points from the first two games at HD. 4 points which we didn't get from the corresponding fixtures last year.

Rob Hooton 79 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:58:04

Steve C, I also thought the ref was the complete opposite of a ‘homer’ today, a few baffling decisions.

Hilarious to see two foul throws in the first half from Villa, a rarity.

Jon Atkinson 80 Posted 13/09/2025 at 18:59:34

Happier with the defence, don’t remember Pickford making a save.Iron Bru faded badly in the second half and should’ve been hooked earlier. Beto was a handful at times but he’s no skill or quick feet. Barry got one shot off in his short stint, really disappointed Dibling didht get on, Ndyie wasn’t as good in the last 20 ideal time to bring the youngster on. Villa all the dark arts largely unpunished but the fat fk in the middle.

Colin Glassar 81 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:03:48

Considering we didn’t have qualified full backs, and we lack a centre forward, I think we did quite well.

If Ndiaye and Grealish had proper, overlapping, fullbacks we would have won that. And, of course, a striker who knows where the old onion bag is.

Ajay Gopal 82 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:06:52

Aston Villa had a clear strategy to double team Grealish. As someone else before mentioned, I don't know why it didn't open up space for others. Especially since Matty Cash was on a yellow card fairly early in the contest? In such a situation, someone like Dwight McNeil would be more useful to lash one in from around the penalty box. Gueye and Rohl tried it but their efforts were woeful. O'Brien showed some good ball skills for someone so huge. I think Ndiaye and him are making a decent partnership on the right side. Iroegbunam was disappointing today, I felt that he was the guy who should have been sent out on loan, not Armstrong. When Mykolenko gets fit and comes in, it will change the entire dynamic of the team, because then Garner comes back to his natural position. But yes, we badly need a better quality goal poacher than Beto.

Conor McCourt 83 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:20:14

I'm surprised by the laissez-faire attitude about the result. This was a good Villa team, better than us, but never has there been a more perfect time to play them. Watkins has looked disinterested since he didn't get his move in the summer and Kamara who in my opinion was their best player last season was out injured with his understudy Onana also out. You could see they were devoid of confidence from their poor start to the season.

This game was a real test if we could challenge for a European place but it seems Moyes delight at a point has spilled over onto ToffeeWeb. Why did the manager not replace Beto earlier to give Barry a chance with some service?

Was this not the game to drop KDH deeper wihen taking off Tim to try and win it to get either Charliy or Dibbling on? If not then KDH should have been taken off also as he wasn't offering much.

By bringing on Dibling alone he could have caused a lot of danger by moving Ndiaye left and getting Jack central. This would have caused new challenges to the full bachs who were already booked.

Not a bad day at all but still a missed opportunity I would suggest

Conor McCourt 84 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:20:20

I'm surprised by the laissez-faire attitude about the result. This was a good Villa team, better than us, but never has there been a more perfect time to play them. Watkins has looked disinterested since he didn't get his move in the summer and Kamara who in my opinion was their best player last season was out injured with his understudy Onana also out. You could see they were devoid of confidence from their poor start to the season.

This game was a real test if we could challenge for a European place but it seems Moyes delight at a point has spilled over onto ToffeeWeb. Why did the manager not replace Beto earlier to give Barry a chance with some service?

Was this not the game to drop KDH deeper wihen taking off Tim to try and win it to get either Charliy or Dibbling on? If not then KDH should have been taken off also as he wasn't offering much.

By bringing on Dibling alone he could have caused a lot of danger by moving Ndiaye left and getting Jack central. This would have caused new challenges to the full bachs who were already booked.

Not a bad day at all but still a missed opportunity I would suggest

85 Posted 13/09/2025 at 19:20:34

I thought we were ok and didn't really learn that much new, other than

- Garner had a much better game at LB but he didn't have tricky wingers like in the last 2 games and in any case, he's needed in the middle because he is better than Tim. Hope Myko is back for RS.

- OK, this is new, Keane might actually be quite a good defender, at least against how Villa play.

- And I guess a shout out for Rohl who didn't look out of place in his first PL start and that is not to be sniffed out given how underwhelming Wirz has been for the RS.

All the other things we know. Grealish and Ndiaye are special players, Gana does what he does, KDH was quieter but still showed quality, while upfront. mmmmmm.

I said during live forum, we could maybe take a leaf out of the film, The Fly, put Beto one pod, Grealish in pod 2 and take out what is teleported to pod 3.

The contents of pod 4 can stay there