Aston Villa 4-0 Everton: Unai Emery’s side thrash woeful visitors as John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran all strike to bounce back from heavy Newcastle defeat

• Aston Villa ran riot in their clash with Everton in the Premier League on Sunday 
• Four goals from the hosts marked a miserable day for Sean Dyche and his side 
• WATCH: ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ – Episode 1 – Mail Sport’s brand new football show

It took until half-time in the second match of the season for widespread boos to start. After several sounds of disgruntlement after an undeserved loss at Goodison Park last week, Everton fans had seen enough to signal this was going to be another long campaign.

Take nothing away from a brilliant Aston Villa performance but Unai Emery’s team were made to look far better by a spineless Everton side. They were picked apart at ease far too often and, when they did make rare forays forward, Sean Dyche’s men looked bereft of ideas.

And although a loud chorus of boos was heard from the away end at the end of the first half, some might have had a sense of relief that their team were only 2-0 down. John McGinn and Douglas Luiz – from the penalty spot – scored the goals but it should have been more.

Then six minutes into the half came the moment that summed up Everton’s shoddy defence. Former Toffees full-back Lucas Digne took a throw-in that evaded everyone but Michael Keane, who tapped the ball into Leon Bailey’s path to make it 3-0. It was calamitous defending.

‘That’s why you’re going down,’ joked Villa fans in the Holte End. After two seasons of flirting with relegation but narrowly escaping – they have finished 16th and 17th – Everton have shown little so far this term to show they have improved.

Moussa Diaby (left) and Leon Bailey (right) starred as Aston Villa beat Everton 4-0 at Villa Park

Douglas Luiz scored from the spot to bag Vila’s second goal of the game in the first-half

Captain John McGinn kick-started the victory with a well taken goal after just 18 minutes 

The result means the Toffees are without a point from their first two Premier League games

Unai Emery’s side bounced back from their humiliating 5-1 defeat to Newcastle last week

Dyche was not helped by a number of mid-game injuries. Dominic Calvert-Lewin cannot buy any luck and after following a new, detailed fitness plan over the summer to sort out his torrid injury record, the striker lasted just 37 minutes, coming off with a facial injury.

ASTON VILLA VS EVERTON MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS 

ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Martinez 7; Cash 6.5, Konsa 6, Torres 7, Digne 7.5; Luiz 7 (Coutinho 64, 6, (Archer 85)), Kamara 6.5; Bailey 7.5 (Tielemans 63, 6), Diaby 8 (Carlos 64, 6), McGinn 8.5; Watkins 7 (Duran 74, 7). 

Subs not used: Olsen, Marschall, Traore, Chambers. 

Booked: Luiz, Digne, Archer. 

Goals: McGinn 18, Luiz 24 pen, Bailey 51, Duran 75

Manager: Unai Emery 7. 

EVERTON (4-3-2-1): Pickford 5; Patterson 4, Keane 3, Tarkowski 5, Young 6; Onana 5, Gueye 4.5 (Dobbin 46, 6), Doucoure 6 (Onyango 90+8); Garner 5.5, Iwobi 5 (Maupay 51, 6); Calvert-Lewin 4.5 (Danjuma 38, 6). 

Subs not used: Virginia, Mykolenko, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Cannon. 

Booked: Pickford, Keane, Gueye, Patterson. 

Manager: Sean Dyche 4. 

Referee: Anthony Taylor 6. 

Attendance: 41,694. 

The Englishman, who had started just 30 of 76 Premier League games in the last two seasons, was clattered by Emiliano Martinez after 10 minutes – a fair and accidental collision – and never recovered, with his face visibly swollen as he left the pitch holding an ice pack on his cheek.

Alex Iwobi also left the field not long into the second half, with Jordan Pickford also showing signs of discomfort. New striker Youssef Chermiti did not even make the squad as Dyche is reluctant to throw the £15million youngster in, while fellow addition Jack Harrison is injured.

Jarrad Branthwaite remained on the substitutes’ bench and the defender must be wondering what he needs to do to get a chance in this slapdash back line. After a solid season on loan at PSV Eindhoven last season, surely he can’t be any worse than this bunch of defenders?

Just 18 minutes were on the clock when Villa’s class showed, with new boy Moussa Diaby at the heart of that and everything good they did. He picked up a dangerous position, played in Leon Bailey who skipped past Ashley Young and squared to John McGinn for an easy finish.

The Scotsman was asked in a video last week if there was any sense in putting him in fantasy football teams this season. ‘Yep,’ he replied. ‘If you want to finish middle to bottom, have John McGinn in there – one goal last season.’ He’s now levelled that tally with 36 games to go.

He was excellent and buzzed around the pitch – and even at one point doubled up as physio to carry off a medical kit. Diaby looks like one of the signings of the summer in the league, while Bailey had one of his best games in a Villa shirt. As for the defence, they were barely troubled.

Five minutes after going ahead, Villa were given a penalty after Pickford did his best Superman impression by flying through the air with his fist outstretched, nearly taking out Ollie Watkins. No such superhero abilities in the spot-kick, though, as Douglas Luiz confidently dispatched.

Pickford helped keep the scores down after that, though, as the majestic Diaby nearly scored a phenomenal volley after Digne’s cross, but the England keeper tipped it on to the post. At the other end, Martinez made his first save of the half on 45 minutes to deny Arnaut Danjuma.

Villa were electric when attacking on Sunday – mainly down to the work of Diaby and Bailey

Everton battled hard to fight back in the game, but were nowhere near good enough on the day

Everton were undone within six minutes of the second period as Keane’s outstretched leg teed up Bailey for an easy finish. It is harsh to pick out individuals in an all-round terrible performance but this was a worryingly bad afternoon for Keane.

Ashley Young was given a warm reception from the Holte End after his move from Villa to Everton this summer – the 38-year-old is seemingly idolised at each of his former clubs, which says a lot about him. But he was at fault for the fourth goal.

Like Bailey’s goal, Everton were undone by one throw-in – but this time from their own man as Young chucked the ball towards James Tarkowski only for substitute Jhon Duran to poach possession and confidently slot past Pickford for 4-0.

Anyone who watched Villa’s 5-1 thrashing at St James’ Park last week will have noted that the scoreline was an injustice – and this was probably the same. Villa won by four goals but it could have been more. For Villa, a European tour awaits… for Everton, another relegation battle.

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