PLAYER RATINGS

See how the players rated (barely) after an utterly abject performance and defeat against Reading (2-1).

This feature normally contains both Highs and Lows amongst those that featured….there are no “highs’ this evening…

Johnstone (5)

The loanee pulled of a fine save in the first half as a drilled effort was goal bound.  Only other duty was to pick the ball out of the net, with those in front of him affording little protection.  Beaten by a wicked deflection for the opener and could do little about the second.

De Laet (3) (Subbed 63 mins)

Struggled along with most of the backline and pulled all over the place for the hour he was on the pitch.

Hutton  (3) (Sub on 63 mins)

Little to report from his half-hour on the pitch, other than things didn’t get any worse.

Chester (4)

A torrid time at centre half as Reading moved the ball with ease throughout the central Villa positions.

Terry (4)

Visibly annoyed to concede the opener, but his man was afforded the space to stab home the squared ball.  Another afforded little protection as Reading ran amock.

Taylor (4)

Another sub-dued performance from a player who had built a level of consistency last term.  Contributed blocks to prevent a couple of crosses, but fared no better than any other Villa defender on the night.

Bjarnason (2.5)

Tried hard and found himself in key attacking positions throughout the night when they presented.  Had a shot blocked, struck over the bar and headed wide when could’ve done better.  Birkir’s role remains a mystery and his performances erratic.

Whelan (3)

Whelan spent the first half chasing shadows as Reading ghosted forward repeatedly.  The second half saw the Irishman be the victim of a wicked deflection to provide the hosts’ opener.  Tracked and harried but performance will not be recalled favourably.

Hourihane (5)

Persisted from what seemed to be a deep role and was wholly ineffective in the first half as Villa were shackled within their own half.  Always posed a question from set-pieces and delivered dangerously into the box from dead balls on a number of occasions.  Rewarded for his movement with a fine goal, hammering home in the dying moments.  Should’ve done better at the death with a well placed free kick on the edge of the D.

Green (2.5)

Tireless, but frighteningly inconsistent for the young man struggling for early season form.  Plenty of willing running were matched with little to no end product.  The strikers need more from the wide men and sometimes keeping it simple has to be preferred to repeating the same mistakes over 90 minutes.

Onomah (4) (Subbed 77 mins)

Much of the first half, like many, completely passed him by.  Technically sharp, but cut a lost figure as the game ran away from us.

Adomah (5.5) (Sub on 77 mins)

Injected much needed directness to the wide areas of the pitch following his introduction.  Delivered dangerous balls and provided much needed width.  Adomah’s cross lead to Villa’s only goal of the game & he delivered more threat in 13 minutes than offered by anyone else over the 90.

Hogan (-) (Injured 29 mins)

Took a heavy challenge in the early exchanges that resulted in a visible limp and never recovered.  Little to judge Hogan on from this showing, but he’s fast approaching the unwanted tag of “sicknote”.

Agbonlahor (4) (Sub on 29 mins)

Cut a similarly isolated figure as anyone who finds themselves leading the line in the current Villa set-up.  Starved for long periods or anonymous depending upon your viewpoint.  Delivered a moment of composure to chest down and assist Hourihane for the Villa goal.