Skip to main content

Aston Villa notebook: Lucas Digne form, Matty Cash roles, Unai Emery's tactical tweaks

BirminghamLive brings you the latest Aston Villa news as Unai Emery's side return to winning ways with dramatic victory over Crystal Palace

Lucas Digne of Aston Villa
Lucas Digne of Aston Villa(Image: Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Aston Villa extended their winning run at home to 10 matches in all competitions with a dramatic 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.


Unai Emery's side fell behind early in the second half when Odsonne Edouard continued his bright start to the campaign, despite Villa's dominance in the first period when Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash both passed up on big chances to break the deadlock. Jhon Duran came off the bench to equalise in stunning fashion on the 87th minute, as he took down Lucas Digne's cross before slamming a half volley past Sam Johnstone.


Watkins then won a penalty in second half additional time, and after a long VAR review, Douglas Luiz kept his cool to win the game from the spot. Leon Bailey then added a third in the 11th minute of added time as Villa won their third Premier League game of the season.


READ | Unai Emery drops selection hint after Jhon Duran's stunning Aston Villa goal

READ | Unai Emery makes Ollie Watkins stance clear as Aston Villa goal drought continues

LUCAS DIGNE'S IMPRESSIVE FORM


Digne has already made five assists this season, after just six games in all competitions. Granted, three of them came in the 5-0 win over Hibernian last month, but he has made two more at crucial points in the wins against Burnley and Palace.

He is playing the best football since joining Villa 18 months ago after stepping up in Alex Moreno's absence. Digne was named in L'Equipe's team of the week for all French players, while he has also posted some impressive numbers so far this term.

Of all Villa players, the left-back has produced the most key passes per game, total key passes, won the most aerial duels per game and recorded the most interceptions.


Moreno has returned from a hamstring injury which he suffered four months ago, but Digne insists Emery will need every member of his squad as the club looks to compete on all fronts, including in Europe.

Lucas Digne of Aston Villa
Lucas Digne of Aston Villa(Image: Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

"I feel really good. I had a good pre-season - like the team - and I feel sharp, I feel confident in my teammates and with the manager too," Digne said in the Palace match programme. "In the team now we have very good players, two or three in each position so it’s good for the team. The most important thing is the team. Like the manager has said before we are like a big family and are working for everybody.


"It’s really important to have a strong group and be like a big family because when something goes wrong, you have to be there together and stay together. We have a lot of time together at the training ground or away from home or in a hotel so you have to feel comfortable with your teammates."

He added: "We have, more or less, if we go really far [in the Europa Conference League] we will be playing around 60 games," Digne said. "That’s a lot of games and we really need everybody and everybody has to be ready. You have nothing better than football in Europe. Also to play under the lights at Villa Park is just amazing."

MATTY CASH'S VERSATILITY


Both full-backs played high and wide in the win over Palace, as Digne and Matty Cash hugged the touchline while Boubacar Kamara made up a back three with Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres. Emery deployed a 3-4-3 shape when Villa were in possession, with John McGinn and Douglas Luiz in midfield, and Nicolo Zaniolo and Moussa Diaby supporting Ollie Watkins.

Cash passed up on two opportunities to score an opening goal for Villa in the first half, but he couldn't add to his tally for the campaign. The Poland international has scored three goals in all competitions, including a brace in the 3-1 win over Burnley when he operated as a right winger.

Matty Cash of Aston Villa
Matty Cash of Aston Villa(Image: Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

In Saturday's win over Palace, Cash enjoyed the licence to get in the box and operate in the final third. Last month, Emery hailed Cash's versatility.

"I know now, but I tried to analyse his characteristics from his past," Emery said. "He'd played as a winger and scored goals before - and I felt he was someone who could play higher than he was last season with us. Now he is doing.

"He played as a winger against Burnley, came off the bench against Hibernian. I know he has to adapt in each circumstances when we need him playing higher or lower.


"He is available to do this. He has that capacity and he is showing it. He is adding goals for the team and for him, I am very happy. But sometimes I have to tell him that even when he is playing well, I am going to stay close to you and push you. Maybe you are relaxing a little bit - and I don't want that. I am not going to let anyone relax."

Asked if he wants to add more unpredictability to Villa's game, Emery said: "Of course, always, we have to pick something on the pitch which surprises the opponent. But the most important is to try and build a strong structure, tactically, and with individual skill to impose ourselves on the opponent."

BUSY PERIOD FOR VILLA


Villa will play six games before the next international break, which falls in just three weeks. Villa's win over Palace was the first of seven matches which the club will play in 22 days.

They jet out to Poland on Wednesday for their first Europa Conference League group stage clash against Legia Warsaw. They'll then play Chelsea on Sunday, Everton next Wednesday and Brighton next Sunday.

HSK Zrinjski Mostar make the trip to Villa Park on Thursday, October 5, before Emery's side travel to Molineux to face Wolves three days later.

Article continues below

What do you make of Villa's start to the season? Tell us in the comments section...

Follow Birmingham Live:


Aston Villa FCLucas DigneUnai Emery
reach logo

At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the saleor sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Privacy Notice.