Aston Villa 4 Everton 0 : Sorry Toffees Taken Apart by Magnificent Villa as Calvert-Lewin Injured Again

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa bounced back to winning ways this afternoon beating a lacklustre Everton side 4-0 at Villa Park to gain their first points of the new Premier League season.

First half goals from John McGinn, and a Douglas Luiz penalty put the West Midlands side firmly in the ascendancy at half-time, before second half efforts from Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran condemned Sean Dyche and Everton to the foot of the table at the end of round two of fixtures.

Having fallen away so badly at St James’ Park against Newcastle in their 5-1 defeat, Aston Villa were galvanised from the off playing with attacking purpose as they looked to gain an early advantage. McGinn latching onto a neat Bailey pass to drive an effort narrowly wide of Everton keeper Jordan Pickford’s near post.

Dyche would have been pleased with his sides showing at Goodison last weekend despite losing 1-0 to Fulham. The Toffee’s had created numerous opportunities but just lacked a killer cutting edge to convert their dominance into points with several chances spurned.

Back came England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin into the attack to provide Dyche with a much needed focal point into his attack. It would be the England striker would would produce the games first moment, but for all the wrong reasons, colliding with Argentine World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez from a Abdoulaye Doucoure cross. An injury the striker never recovered from eventually replaced in the 36th minute of play.

In the meantime the home side would be slick in attack, often finding space in the Everton final third and would be rewarded for their inventive build-up play. McGinn latching onto the end of a Leon Bailey pull back after Moussa Diaby had been given far to much room by the Everton midfield.

With the hosts tails up the scorelines soon doubled as Aston Villa scored a second goal from the penalty spot. Pickford, making a hash of punching Matty Cash’s in-swinging cross, taking out Villa forward Ollie Watkins to give referee Anthony Taylor no choice but to give a spot kick. Brazilian Luiz making no mistake drilling his low effort into the right-hand corner past a despairing Pickford.

Dejected and off the pace, Everton struggled but toiled. The energetic Aurnaut Danjuma coming close testing Martinez just before the break shooting from an acute angle to ripples of applause from the visiting support already contemplating their long journey back to Merseyside.

Dyche’s introduction of young Lewis Dobbin from after the break illustrated the fragility and lack of depth in the Everton bench as the visitors tripled their lead. Ex-Toffee Lucas Digne a key figure in his time on Merseyside central to Leon Bailey converting a low effort from just outside the six-yard box after Michael Keane had failed to clear his lines.

It would just not be Everton’s day with Nigerian Alex Iwobi forced off with a hamstring injury off the ball in the build up to the goal.

Villa would have their own injury problems coming into the game with seven first teamers out coming into the game. Tyrome Mings and Emiliano Buendia the latest to join the long list of casualties last weekend with season ending knee problems.

The last thing Uni Emery would want would be further complications ahead of a Europa Conference League play-off trip to Hibernian on Thursday night. That is what he would get though with both Bailey and Philippe Coutinho succumbing to nasty local muscular problems as the half went on.

It would not spoil the hosts day, however, as they added a fourth to compound the visitors misery. Everton providing the making of their own undoing with former Villan Ashley Young embarrassed as his throw failed to find Keane, with gleeful substitute forward Duran latching onto the loose ball to slot under an abject Pickford for his first goal in claret and blue.

Martinez would show why he is a World Cup winner in the last ten minutes denying replacement Neil Maupay’s volley from close range to keep his and Villa’s clean sheet in tact. It would though be a rare foray at the Argentine’s goal as Everton would end well beaten.

The Toffee’s will now move on to crucial six-pointers against Wolves and Sheffield United at the foot of the table knowing even at this early stage a result is needed if they are not going to be sucked into a similar relegation battle to the last campaign.

As for Villa, with goal difference back intact it is a case of looking up as their impeccable home record of eight wins in row continues.