Victory parade for Villa
Wesley and El Ghazi seal long-awaited top-flight win
Aston Villa 2 Wesley 21, El Ghazi 90 0 Everton Att: 41,922
It has been a capricious journey to the Premier League for Wesley, Aston Villa’s new £21million joint-record signing, but he will never forget his contribution here.
Wesley’s maiden goal in English football secured Villa a longawaited first victory at this level since February 2016 as the Brazilian, signed from Club Brugge, announced himself with a performance of power and promise.
Dean Smith, Villa’s head coach, has been passionately defending the forward after some early negativity over his start in this country, yet his coolly taken finish in the first half was the perfect response.
Anwar El Ghazi, on as a substitute, added the second goal deep into added time to condemn a desperately poor Everton to only their third defeat since mid-march.
Smith said: “This was up there with any night that I’ve been at. It’s good to get that monkey off our backs and get the first win.
“I’ve always been convinced Wesley would score goals in the Premier League and he was excellent,” he added. “The No9 shirt is a big one to carry. Two games in it is very harsh to scrutinise a centreforward.”
Wesley was excellent, while Jack Grealish was a menace breaking from midfield. The Villa captain has now ended an unwanted personal record, after previously losing 20 Premier League games in a row.
In front of watching England manager Gareth Southgate and his assistant, Steve Holland, Grealish impressed, although it was arguably defender Tyrone Mings who was their star performer.
For Everton, this was an early reality check. Here was the opportunity to go top of the table for the first time since 2007, when David Moyes was manager. They did start well and were convinced they should have been awarded a fifth-minute penalty when Grealish collided with Richarlison. It was a clumsy rather than malicious clash but there was clear contact and it could easily have been given
Seven minutes later Mings produced a fine block to prevent Michael Keane’s shot from finding the target. Mings had been struggling with a groin problem in the warmup but it was brilliant defending.
Villa’s start to the season had witnessed two successive defeats after a mammoth £127million spent on 12 new signings. Smith has always maintained it will take time for these players to find their feet and could not hide his exasperation over early criticism of Wesley. But in the 21st minute the Brazilian seized his moment with a goal against the run of play.
Grealish’s swiftly-taken free-kick broke to Jota on the right and his clever pass found Wesley, who confidently beat Jordan Pickford with a low finish. Villa were now transformed. Grealish was starting to become more influential and Wesley was clearly relishing his physical battles with Keane and Yerry Mina.
Marco Silva, the Everton manager, had much to ponder, with his team looking devoid of ideas in the final third. It was no surprise when he made changes. Two of his summer signings, Alex Iwobi and Moise Kean, were introduced in a bid to add some urgency.
Iwobi could have equalised in the 71st minute when he was found by Lucas Digne but his shot was charged down and Tom Heaton was able to make a simple save.
The former Arsenal attacker then struck the post before Theo Walcott, another substitute, produced an awful miss a minute from time, volleying over the bar. Villa then made sure of their victory when El Ghazi was sent clear by John Mcginn and shot under Pickford.
Silva said: “We deserved something more. When you create so many chances and don’t score, it’s not the best. We knew this was a tough place to play football but we should play with more character.”
Aston Villa (4-3-3) Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Taylor; Mcginn, Luiz, Grealish; Jota (El Ghazi 77), Wesley, Trezeguet (El Mohamady 86). Subs Steer (g), Lansbury, Hourihane, Konsa, Davis. Booked Guilbert, Trezeguet. Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Schneiderlin, Gomes; Richarlison (Walcott 78), Sigurdsson (Iwobi 61), Bernard (Kean 62); Calvert-lewin. Subs Stekelenburg (g), Holgate, Sidibe, Davies. Booked Calvert-lewin, Gomes, Coleman.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland).