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Elliott substitution highlights Emery’s tactical flexibility in Aston Villa win

Aston Villa’s 3-1 victory over Fulham at Villa Park was not without controversy, nor without intrigue. The home side found themselves behind early on, and the game took a decisive turn when Harvey Elliott was withdrawn at half-time. His replacement, Emiliano Buendia, scored within minutes of the restart as Unai Emery’s side overturned the deficit in emphatic fashion.

Elliott adaptation continues

Elliott, on loan from Liverpool, has been eased into life at Aston Villa with flashes of promise but also signs that adjustment is ongoing. Substituted after 45 minutes with the score level at 1-1, his early departure raised questions. Emery was clear in his post-match explanation: the decision was tactical rather than performance-related.

“Keep going, for him,” said Emery. “I changed him more tactically because Buendia is giving us energy and his adaptation is better at the moment. He needs time. Emiliano did fantastic.”

It was a candid acknowledgement from the Spaniard that Elliott is still finding his rhythm in new surroundings. Villa supporters will recognise that patience will be needed with a player of such technical quality.

Emery’s bold call pays off

The second half demonstrated the value of Emery’s judgement. Within six minutes of the restart, both John McGinn and Buendia had found the net, tilting the match firmly in Villa’s favour. From that point, Fulham never truly recovered.

Yet Marco Silva’s side were aggrieved, believing they should have had a penalty when Josh King went down under pressure while his team led 1-0. Instead, the referee cautioned the forward for simulation — a moment that left the visiting manager furious.

For Villa, however, the focus was on their response. Goals from Ollie Watkins, McGinn and Buendia not only secured three points but also underlined Emery’s willingness to make decisive calls at crucial moments.

Goalscoring struggles addressed

Villa’s lack of goals in the early stages of the campaign has been a concern. Watkins had been enduring a barren spell, Morgan Rogers’ form had dipped, and Elliott was still adjusting. Against Fulham, however, the attacking unit found its spark.

“Watkins is very important for the team because he was not scoring,” Emery reflected. “We needed goals through him, Buendia and McGinn. Today, with our supporters, we connected again and brought the energy we needed.”

That sense of balance and renewed aggression was evident as Villa pressed high, recovered possession, and forced Fulham onto the back foot.

Building momentum under Emery

The victory continues a gradual improvement under Emery. Draws away from home had left Villa frustrated, but the Spaniard views those results as part of a wider process.

“We are not where we want to be but this result will hopefully help us get better,” he said. “The players are connecting and adapting. Today we reacted well after conceding, and our energy allowed us to come back.”

Villa now turn their attention to Europe, with a trip to Feyenoord on Thursday offering another test of their resilience and adaptability. For Elliott, the challenge is to accelerate his integration. For Emery, the balance lies in managing both the short-term demands of results and the long-term growth of a talented squad.

Patience, tactical clarity, and attacking output are beginning to converge — and Villa supporters will hope this is the foundation of a more consistent run.