Aston Villa played their first of eight pre-season matches last night, in a 1-0 defeat to Walsall. Twenty-two players were used by Villa manager Unai Emery, the majority part of the youth setup, with only nine first-team members included. This was due to the majority of the other players arriving later as they were on international duty.
It was a slow paced game, with it very evident that it was Villa's first match since the end of last season. The main objective for the earlier pre-season matches is to get minutes into the legs of the players. Villa heads to the USA for their pre-season tour, for three matches, at the end of July which is when we will see the main focus shift to the tactical setup and how Emery wants the team to play.
Key Moments
Aston Villa First Half team: Gauci (Marschall 30'), Rowe, Mosquera, Torres, Moreno, Young, Barkley, Bogarde, Ramsey (C), Jimoh-Aloba, Barry
Aston Villa Second Half team: Marschall, Garcia, Carroll, Mings (C), Ozcan, Burrowes, Kamara, Hemmings, Patterson, Pavey, Dobbin
Walsall had a couple of early chances, with Aaron Pressley sending a header just over the bar before Charlie Lakin had a low shot saved by Gauci.
The only goal of the game was scored in the 38th minute by Harrison Burke, who flicked home from close-range, following Jamie Jellis' shot from outside the box.
19-year-old Charlie Pavey had a couple of great chances to draw Villa level. A diving header from Burrowes' well placed cross was narrowly wide and a ball put through from Boubacar Kamara was chipped into the side netting.
Villa's best chance of the game came when Lewis Dobbin was put through 1 on 1 from Kamara, whose shot was well saved by Walsall keeper Sam Hornby.
Yasin Ozcan, who signed on a pre-contract agreement from Turkish side Kasimpasa in January, had a thundering strike hit the side netting again in the final five minutes as the visitors were unable to find an equaliser.
Standout Performers
There were a number of Villa youngsters who showed signs of their potential with 18-year-old defensive midfielder, George Hemmings the standout. His eagerness to get on the ball and his ability to turn and drive under pressure was great to see, and is certainly one to watch for the future at Aston Villa.
Tristan Rowe at right-back and Yeimar Mosquera at centre-back were both very comfortable on the ball and considering most of the players wouldn't have played with each other, they didn't look out of place at all.
Lamare Bogarde, Ozcan and Andres Garcia also played well, with the trio likely to be around the first-team squad. Villa's future certainly looks bright with some of the youngsters showing a lot of potential and whether they break into Villa's first-team or move elsewhere, many of them have a great career ahead of them.
Villa's second match of pre-season is on Saturday as they visit German side Hansa Rostock at 3pm BST.
