New manager bounce no issue for Villa as they beat Everton | OneFootball

For the second time in a week, Aston Villa had to face a side that had just appointed a new manager and fans could be forgiven for worrying about the dreaded new manager bounce.

Just as West Ham appointed Graham Potter a few days before the two sides meeting in the FA Cup, Everton appointed David Moyes a few days before the clash at Goodison Park yesterday evening.

Unai Emery’s message was clear: Villa needed to improve their away form and keep a clean sheet. Easier said than done, eh?

Report: Everton 0-1 Aston Villa

These two sides have met a record 214 times, and should that number grow, Moyes will have his work cut out as Everton have battled relegation for a few years. I believe it is the right appointment, and Everton will be playing us again next season as they go from strength to strength in the former West Ham manager’s second spell on Merseyside.

Emery made four changes from the side that beat West Ham at the weekend. Emiliano Martínez and Lucas Digne returned after being rested in the FA Cup win. Jacob Ramsey was handed his first start in a while and Amadou Onana returned to the starting line-up after his recent injury issues.

In truth, the game was far from a classic with Villa dominating early on and Jordan Pickford had to come to their rescue.

Digne, Ramsey and Morgan Rogers all linked up and despite Everton’s best efforts, their defensive problems were clear to see when the latter broke free before forcing a save from England’s number 1 as he pushed his International teammate’s effort wide of the goal.

Former Villan Ashley Young almost gifted Villa their opening goal when he played a poor passback towards the Everton goal, allowing Ollie Watkins to run onto the ball from outside. Pickford rushed to the edge of the box to try and limit the striker’s view of the goal before Watkins unleashed an effort that went just wide of the goal.

The home side’s first effort of note came when Vitalii Mykolenko played a long ball forward for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, he beat Ezri Konsa to the ball but could only fire his shot wide of the goal.

Moments later Calvert-Lewin had another chance when Jack Harrison picked him out in the area but his tame effort was stopped by Boubacar Kamara on the line who then cleared the ball.

Then it was Villa’s turn to miss a sitter. Kamara picked out Rogers who turned on the ball just outside the Everton box but it shot was blocked, falling to Ramsey who could only turn a great opportunity wide of the goal when it looked easier to score.

The only goal of the game was just after the half-time break when Rogers jumped on a miss-placed pass before setting Watkins through on goal. This time the England striker made no mistake slotting past Pickford to score his 9th goal of the season.

The visitors seemed to drop a gear as they dropped trying to protect their lead and pick up their first win on the road in 5 but Everton failed to threaten until late on.

Substitute Jesper Lindstrøm picked the ball up after a poor-headed clearance from Tyrone Mings before crossing the ball across the goal but once again Calvert-Lewin could only direct his effort over the ball giving Villa all three points.