Aston Villa earned a hard-fought point with a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace. Despite two penalty appeals being turned down, Unai Emery’s side remained resilient, with Ollie Watkins narrowly missing a late winner by hitting the post.
Villa controlled much of the early action, dominating possession in the first 15 minutes. Although Dean Henderson remained largely untested, Villa midfielder John McGinn appeared unlucky as his penalty claim was dismissed when Tyrick Mitchell blocked his effort with an apparent handball inside the box.
The visitors had early threats, but Crystal Palace broke through with their first clear chance after Adam Wharton split Villa’s defense, setting Brennan Johnson on goal. Johnson hesitated, however, allowing Villa’s Emi Martinez to tip his shot over the bar.
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Martinez’s counterpart, Dean Henderson, made a vital save in the 25th minute, denying Watkins after Youri Tielemans released the striker into the box. Watkins came close again before halftime, only for a strong defensive block by Maxence Lacroix to deny him after a clever chip over Jaydee Canvot.
Villa’s hopes for three points took a hit at halftime when Martinez was forced off due to injury, with Marco Bizot stepping in to make his ninth appearance this season. Bizot made important stops in the second half, including parrying a fierce shot from Yeremy Pino to safety, followed by quick defensive interventions from Lucas Digne and Boubacar Kamara to keep Palace at bay.
On the offensive front, Matty Cash delivered a well-placed cross in the 84th minute, but Watkins’ header struck the post, denying Villa a late winner.
Player ratings highlight key contributions: Cash and Digne both earned 8s for their active roles in attack and defense, while McGinn, Tielemans, Kamara, Lindelof, and Konsa all performed solidly with 7s. Martinez and Watkins received 6s, reflecting their moments of threat but ultimately no goals. Jadon Sancho struggled to influence the game, earning a 5.
Substitutes Bizot, Emi Buendia, and others brought fresh energy, though the deadlock remained unbroken. Villa now aim to build on this resilient performance in their forthcoming matches as they continue their pursuit of victory in the Premier League.
Emi Martinez (6) – Kept Palace at bay early but forced off at halftime due to injury.
Matty Cash (8) – Influential on both ends; his crossed header narrowly missed.
Ezri Konsa (7) – Strong defending with high passing accuracy.
Victor Lindelof (7) – Solid sheets and crucial blocks.
Lucas Digne (8) – Made vital recovery tackle to deny an open goal.
Boubacar Kamara (7) – Defensive and creative contribution.
Youri Tielemans (7) – Delivered key passes and created chances.
Morgan Rogers (6) – Worked hard but lacked end product.
John McGinn (7) – Central to Villa’s play; unfortunate penalty shout.
Jadon Sancho (5) – Limited impact in his second league start.
Ollie Watkins (6) – Threatened multiple times but unlucky not to score.
Subs: Marco Bizot (6), Emi Buendia (6)