Aston Villa edged out Burnley in a tightly contested Premier League match with a final score of 3-2. Villa's Moussa Diaby ended his two-month goal drought and improved his season tally to 3 goals in 19 games, contributing significantly to the victory. Bailey opened the scoring for Villa, making it 1-0, but Burnley's Amdouni quickly responded with a volley to equalize at 1-1. Diaby then scored, assisted by Watkins, his second of the game, to put Villa back in the lead at 2-1. Burnley's Foster had a goal disallowed for offside after a VAR check, and their situation worsened when Sander Berge received a second yellow card, reducing them to ten men. Despite the disadvantage, Burnley managed an equalizer at 2-2 through Foster. The match was decided by a penalty from Douglas Luiz, who took his time before shooting high and hitting the underside of the crossbar, securing a 3-2 victory for Villa.
Wow. Douglas Luiz took an eternity to start his run-up after the referee blew the whistle. He settled himself down, took extra breaths and shoots high, hitting the underside of the crossbar. #AVFC finally found calm. 3-2.
GOALLLLL DOUGLAS LUIZ FROM THE SPOT 3-2 #AVFC
LYLE FOSTER EQUALIZES FOR 10-MAN BURNLEY AT VILLA PARK. 💥 His first goal since taking a leave of absence to address mental health—what a moment for both Foster & Clarets. 💜 https://t.co/aygxVikpwB
Burnley's goal stands. Moments after Diaby fires over, the resulting goal kick ends up in Foster finishing. They win the first header and both Pau Torres and Moreno inexplicably try to step up and catch Lyle Foster offside. Sometimes, defenders just need to get goal side. #AVFC
Get in!!!! Ten men @BurnleyOfficial back in it … chuffed for Lyle Foster #utc
Wow. 2-2. Villa made to pay. Ten-men Burnley equalise. Lyle Foster. #AVFC
How Villa haven't scored their third is beyond me. Villa's attackers currently playing rugby at the moment - shooting over the posts. Diaby has hit over twice from close range after Jacob Ramsey earlier. Have to kill this game off soon, surely. #AVFC
Jacob Ramsey fires over inside the six-yard box after an excellent underlap from Ezri Konsa. Should be 3-1. The extra man has enabled #AVFC to finally start sustaining attacks.
Jacob Ramsey skies a shot over from a couple of yards. Villa causing a lot of problems down Burnley's left flank. #twitterclarets
Two big saves in quick succession from Trafford to deny McGinn and then Bailey. Then Luiz sends a curling shot just wide of the post. #twitterclarets
Good chance for Foster who chases a long ball. Carlos doesn't deal with it but Foster can only stab his shot wide. Handball from Carlos during the play but its just outside the area... and there's nothing given after a VAR check... Kompany furious. #twitterclarets
Sander Berge sent off for two yellows. Tugs at Douglas Luiz's shirt and Burnley are now down to ten men. #AVFC
Jacob Ramsey is getting between the lines in Burnley's 4-4-2, but struggling to create. Diaby and Bailey combining better and offer #AVFC speed, but Emery probably lacks the control & positional discipline that having two midfielders in No 10 (eg; Tielemans and McGinn) would give
Foster released in behind by Berge and he's one-on-one against Lenglet again. Opts to try and cut inside but is eased off it by Lenglet. Went down wanting a penalty. No chance. Then Amdouni tries to sneak a shot in at Martinez's near post. #twitterclarets
Another excellent piece of work from Foster to win Burnley a corner. Causing so many problems for Lenglet. #twitterclarets
Foster again brings a save out of Martinez. Nice pass from Vitinho, but the flag went up anyway. #twitterclarets
#AVFC haven't been sparkling but their quality up front is telling - Watkins again gets on the end of a long ball over the top and pulls the ball back to Diaby inside the box who taps in. Just onside. First goal in two months for Diaby and two assists for Watkins. 2-1.
Ait-Nouri booked for kicking the ball away to delay an Everton throw. Seemed like the lineman had a word in the referee's ear as the card was slow to be brandished. #WWFC https://t.co/rg0TnLi0i7
Goal for Villa. 2-1. Diaby #twitterclarets
GOALLL DIABBYYYY 2-1 #AVFC
After a VAR check, Lyle Foster is just offside after scoring. #AVFC getting played through far too easily in midfield. Still missing Boubacar Kamara massively.
A lovely Burnley move as the work it side to side before Berge finds Amdouni in space out wide, ends with a Odobert header that he doesn't get enough on and can only flick it on rather than direct it at goal. #twitterclarets
Goal Burnley. 1-1 instant equaliser. Amdouni volleys in from the second phase of a free-kick. #AVFC were ahead for a matter of seconds.
Patient from #AVFC with a quick change the tempo. The back three keep the ball before Carlos finds the run of Watkins over the top. He cuts inside and the ball finds Bailey at the back post who lashes in towards the roof of the net. Emphatic finish and much-needed boost. 1-0
Goal for Villa. 1-0. Bailey #twitterclarets
GOALLLLL BAILEYYYY 1-0 #AVFC
Long throw from Vitinho causes problems. Couple of important Villa challenges before Brownhill's side-footed shot is saved comfortably by Martinez. Encouraging last couple of minutes. #twitterclarets
Huge chance for Burnley. Foster muscles Lenglet off the ball and carries it into the box. Three to pick out but his pass can't find any of them. Looked to find Amdouni who was free but too far in front of him. Then Brownhill shot wide. #twitterclarets
Villa have a freekick on the edge of the area and Taylor is booked for clattering into Diaby as he took down a long pass. No complaints. Wiped him out. Dangerous situation. #twitterclarets
Burnley break from a Villa FK. Foster feeds Odobert who skips past McGinn and wins a corner. #twitterclarets
Another deep free kick for Villa and this time it's Bailey AND Diaby standing behind the opposition's goalkeeper, whispering a few sweet nothings. #AVFC
Konsa booked after his protests as the referee somehow gives a goal kick instead of a Villa corner after the ball cannons off a Burnley shirt. Emery points to his temple and tells Konsa to calm down. #AVFC need a bit of a kick
The ball has to be played quicker into Diaby and Bailey. 2v1 against Charlie Taylor and the left centre-back Jordan Beyer is hobbling and struggling to get tight. #AVFC need a change of gears from the right. The first time they do it, Watkins wins a corner from Diaby's pass
Good save from Trafford from Watkins. Came from Vitinho and O'Shea leaving a high ball over the top for each other and Villa capitalising on it. #twitterclarets
A nearly moment for Foster as he nearly beat Martinez to a long ball over the top. Got caught in the process but up and back moving again. #twitterclarets
Unsurprisingly no chance to Burnley's set-up from the recent run. 4-4-2 mid-block out of possession, that will try and press high when possible. Diaby fires a shot wide of the near post from a Villa corner at the back post. #twitterclarets
A few boos prompted as the two sides swap ends. Sadly, #AVFC will be kicking towards The Holte End in the first half - twice in three home games now. An extremely dynamic and pacey front four for Villa, bolstered by Moreno at left-back. Underway.
With how Burnley play and the space left in the channels & on turnovers, it is a big chance for Moussa Diaby to regain his early-season form and dovetail better with Watkins and Bailey. Hasn't scored a PL goal for two months,been in and out of the side - 3 goals in 19 games.#AVFC