Premier League
Emery's Villa search for answers as slump deepens
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa sit second‑bottom of the Premier League after three defeats in four games, the latest a 2‑1 loss at home to Nottingham Forest that left defender Tyrone Mings collapsed on the pitch. The summer rebuild now faces fresh scrutiny as the club struggles to find a win.
Early season woes and historic parallels
Three defeats in the opening four fixtures have left Villa second‑bottom, mirroring the club’s fourth‑time start to a top‑flight season without a win in the first four games – previously in 1992‑93, 1997‑98 and 2025‑26. The side also ended a 372‑minute Premier League goalless run only to concede again, underscoring lingering attacking issues.
Last season the club finished fourth in the Premier League and claimed a historic Europa League triumph, yet those celebrations from May feel distant as the current campaign stalls.
Injuries, discipline and upcoming challenges
Emery argued that James McAtee should have been sent off, saying:
"When we equalised the match could change but we finished with Ian Maatsen injured and with 10 players, we conceded so many chances in the last minutes and they scored the second goal and deserved it,"and added that the VAR should have intervened to issue a red card.
Left‑back Ian Maatsen was forced off with an ankle injury, leaving Villa with ten men and prompting fears of a lengthy absence. New signing Matteo Ruggeri may be called upon sooner than expected, while centre‑back Pau Torres was also replaced early and summer signing Taylor Harwood‑Bellis remained on the bench.
Villa travel to Coventry in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before a Premier League trip to Tottenham, with the £30m centre‑back expected to feature at the CBS Arena.
The match report, Published 45 minutes ago, opened with the line “Nobody said it was going to be easy”. The accompanying photograph, listed as Image source, Getty Images, Image caption, captures the gloom after the defeat.
If Coventry beat Brighton on Sunday, Emery’s side will sit bottom of the table, leaving the manager still searching for answers as the season unfolds.