Emi Buendia scored a rare-headed goal as Aston Villa produced one of the close football scores of the weekend in the Premier League. Duncan Ferguson’s first game in charge was marred when two players were hit with a bottle thrown from the crowd. The players were hit when they were celebrating the goal just before half-time. Villa boss Steven Gerrard said his side had to “roll their sleeves up” at Goodison Park but off the pitch, tensions spilled over as the Villa players celebrated their winning goal, with Digne and Matty Cash both knocked to the floor by a full bottle thrown from the home support.
Player ratings
Everton: Pickford (7), Kenny (7), Holgate (7), Mina (6), Godfrey (6), Townsend (6), Doucoure (7), Gomes (6), Gray (7), Richarlison (6), Calvert-Lewin (5).
Subs: Allan (7), Gordon (7), Onyango (6).
Aston Villa: Martinez (6), Cash (8), Konsa (7), Mings (7), Digne (7), McGinn (7), Ramsey (7), Luiz (7), Buendia (8), Watkins (5), Coutinho (6).
Subs: Chukwuemeka (6), Ings (6), Hause (n/a).
Man of the match: Matty Cash
Managers Reaction
Everton manager Duncan Ferguson: “Several objects were thrown towards the pitch following Aston Villa’s goal at the end of the first half, with one missile appearing to strike two opposition players. Investigations in conjunction with the police are ongoing, and the Club will issue bans to any fans identified throwing objects. It hit Matty straight on the head. It’s not nice having that, but we got three points so we’ll take that.”
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard: “He’ll be really proud of that header – and he’s gone and won us the game.”
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