Aston Villa 2 Crystal Palace 2 - Report

Ross Barkley earned Unai Emery’s team a point from a chaotic match when he headed home with 13 minutes to go.

Ismaila Sarr had fired the visitors into an early lead before Ollie Watkins levelled for the hosts.

Youri Tielemans then saw a penalty saved before Justin Devenny restored Palace’s advantage moments later.

Analysis

Devenny’s goal came on a swift counter attack from a Villa corner, echoing the two goals Emery’s team conceded in their defeat at Liverpool prior to the international break.

Just as on that occasion, they were again masters of their own downfall, a defence missing injured England international Ezri Konsa cut open too easily for Sarr’s opener.

At least the hosts were able to produce enough quality to salvage a point. It might have been all three had Tielemans been able to convert Villa’s first penalty of the season, awarded after Will Hughes was adjudged to have fouled Leon Bailey following a VAR check.

But Dean Henderson produced a brilliant one-handed save, diving to his left. Villa were then caught on the counter from the resulting corner to end up chasing the game again.

Barkley’s second goal of the season ensured they took something from the game but in truth it was hard to tell whether this was a point earned or two dropped. Emi Martinez produced a superb save to deny Jeffrey Schlupp a winner for the visitors, who fell into the bottom three courtesy of Wolves’ win at Fulham but can take heart from their performance.

Konsa’s absence through injury meant there would be changes to the backline and it was Lamare Bogarde who replaced the England international at right-back for just his third Premier League start and first for two months. There was a surprise, meanwhile, at left-back where £37.5million summer signing Ian Maatsen was handed a first league start in place of Lucas Digne.

It was Maatsen who was closest to Sarr when he fired the visitors in front inside four minutes. From the left-back position, it took Palace just two passes to break through Villa’s defence, Jean-Philippe Mateta afforded acres of space to turn and play Sarr through with both Diego Carlos and Pau Torres out of position. The finish gave Martinez no chance.

Villa struggled to get going but did go close when Watkins headed over from John McGinn’s cross. Yet having been caught wide open for the opener, they were nearly undone again when Tielemans lost possession in the centre circle. This time Sarr sent his shot straight at Martinez.

Villa needed a moment of inspiration and found it through Watkins. The striker had already been denied by a superb Henderson save when he raced on to McGinn’s through pass, rounded the keeper and slid home his sixth Premier League goal of the season.

Now the hosts were in ascendency and Bailey, so badly struggling for form in recent months, nearly opened his account for the season with a shot which crashed against the bar.

It was the winger who then tumbled under the challenge of Will Hughes in the box and though referee Tim Robinson initially waved for play to continue, he was advised to visit the monitor by VAR Alex Chilowicz and awarded a penalty. Tielemans struck his spot-kick to the left but Henderson, who guessed correctly, pushed the ball over the bar with a brilliant one-handed save.

A couple of minutes later, Palace were ahead. McGinn returned the corner into the box but then stood off as Hughes sent Sarr scampering into the Villa half. His low cross was missed by Mateta but converted by Devenny at the far post.

Matty Cash replaced Bogarde off the bench at the break and Villa were almost quickly level again, McGinn coming within a whisker of converting Bailey’s cross. Maxence Lacroix then put in a vital challenge to rob Watkins just as he was about to pull the trigger. The England international also saw a close range effort blocked.

Palace weathered the storm, however and had the chance to increase their advantage when Mateta headed straight at Martinez.

Emery introduced Jhon Duran off the bench with 20 minutes remaining but Villa saw appeals for another penalty waved away when Watkins went down under the challenge of Lacroix.

With 13 minutes to go, the hosts drew level for a second time as finally a corner went right, Barkley producing a fine flicked headed finish to Tielemans’ corner.

The momentum was with the hosts but it needed a brilliant Martinez save to preserve parity, as he got fingertips on substitute Jeffrey Schlupp’s shot to divert it onto the post after more hesitant defending.

Key Moments

4 GOAL Ismaila Sarr fires Palace into an early lead.

35 GOAL Ollie Watkins levels for Villa after rounding goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

45 PENALTY SAVE Youri Tielemans is denied by Henderson from the spot.

45+1 GOAL Palace go in front as Villa are again caught on the break from an attacking corner. Justin Devenny finishes Sarr’s cross at the far post.

77 GOAL Ross Barkley draws Villa level for a second time, heading home Tielemans’ corner.

Teams

Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Bogarde (Cash HT), Carlos, Torres, Maatsen (Digne 69), Barkley, Tielemans, Bailey (Philogene 82), Rogers (Buendia 82), McGinn (Duran 69), Watkins Subs not used: Cash, Mings, Nedeljkovic, Broggio, Olsen (gk).

Palace (5-3-2): Henderson, Munoz, Lacroix, Chalobah, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes, Devenny (Schlupp 73), Doucoure (Lerma 63), Mateta, Sarr Subs not used: Ward, Clyne, Richards, Kporha, Agbinone, Matthews (gk), Turner (gk).