John Townley
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John Townley
@johntownley.bsky.social
Aston Villa correspondent for Birmingham Live | @claretbluepod.bsky.social
#AVFC
Unai Emery on Harvey Elliott: "We are not thinking about the transfer window in January. He is one of our players and hopefully he can help us. Then, we are going to decide. There are other players performing very well. He is training very well every day."

#AVFC
November 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Unai Emery: "The only player out is Tyrone Mings. The other players are in the squad for tomorrow. We will have a meeting in the morning and analyse each individual situation about us and the opponent. We will decide [who plays] through it."

#AVFC
November 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Amadou Onana was in full training at Bodymoor Heath this morning ahead of Aston Villa's Europa League match against BSC Young Boys.

#AVFC
Aston Villa handed injury boost ahead of Young Boys clash after Leeds absence
Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana missed the club's win at Leeds United last weekend
www.birminghammail.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Donyell Malen admits even he was surprised by Morgan Rogers' quality in scoring the free-kick that sealed Aston Villa's win at Leeds.

"The way we are performing, the energy in the dressing room and in training, the whole team is having fun, so it's good."

#AVFC
Donyell Malen makes surprise Morgan Rogers point as Arsenal challenge discussed
Aston Villa forward Donyell Malen hailed Morgan Rogers' match-winning contribution against Leeds United
www.birminghammail.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
#AVFC boss Unai Emery says Morgan Rogers was both hungry and angry to start scoring more goals this season.

"He is a player who can get numbers. Last year he got double numbers for goals and assists. This year I think he will get this again."
Unai Emery makes 'angry' Morgan Rogers point after stunning performance at Leeds
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery hailed Morgan Rogers after the 2-1 win over Leeds United in the Premier League
www.birminghammail.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
#AVFC grinding out away wins is nothing new under Unai Emery - and that resilience can take them far again.

Every top team knows how to win ugly, even if Morgan Rogers' goals were magic.
Aston Villa discover Champions League trait as Rogers class shines through
It wasn't pretty at times, but Aston Villa came from behind to beat Leeds United at Elland Road
www.birminghammail.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Morgan Rogers: "I call it the Emi Buendia. I've been practising free-kicks, probably not as hard as him or as much as I should. Once he was off, I looked around and there was nobody else that really practised them, so I thought 'why not?'. I've got them in the locker."

#AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Unai Emery on Morgan Rogers: "He was performing fantastic, even when he wasn't scoring. It has always been his task to focus on the game plan we have. He's always playing well. Today it's better to be scoring goals but to me he's always the same."

#AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Morgan Rogers: "A lot of people had opinions on how we started the season but we know how good we are. We are playing really well at the moment and full of confidence."

#AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Morgan Rogers: "I'm happy the free-kick went in. I tried to replicate Emi and thankfully it went in. I tried a bit in training and have been trying. The set-piece coach is banging on at me to keep trying in training."

#AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Morgan Rogers: "We dug deep and showed determination. We deserved the win in the end. Everyone in the dressing room we will work as hard as we can and leave everything out there. We may not be at it as normal but sometimes heart and determination gets you over the line."

#AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Matty Cash: "We started [the season] poorly but we've found a bit of rhythm and stuck together as a group. We have a fantastic manager who leads us really well. His message today was to win the game and get into the top four. We're delighted."

#AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Matty Cash: "The boys that came on did really well – and a little dippy from Morgan at the end. I see it every time in training. You have to be resilient in places like this. In the second half we played really well. There were some great finishes. I'm really happy."

#AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Since his Premier League debut in February 2024, only Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka have been involved in more goals in the competition aged 23 and under than Mogan Rogers (14G, 13A).

#AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
#AVFC move into the Premier League's top four after coming from behind to beat Leeds 2-1 at Elland Road.

It was a scrappy game on a slow pitch, but a win on the road is always sweet! The Morgan Rogers show this afternoon - top drawer. ✨
Aston Villa player ratings as 9 and 7s awarded after 2-1 win at Leeds
John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings after Unai Emery's side beat Leeds United 2-1 in the Premier League
www.birminghammail.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
GOAL: Morrrrgan Rogggeerrrrrs! A beauty of a free-kick hands Villa the lead. Some technique, that!

Leeds 1-2 #AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
GOAL: Morgan Rogers! Villa are level just after the restart. Instant impact from Donyell Malen, who fired the ball across goal for Rogers to divert past Lucas Perri. Lovely flick.

Leeds 1-1 #AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
HT: Ugly first half at Elland Road. Villa second-best across the park. Poor goal to concede early on. Matty Cash's cross to Ollie Watkins, and their two strikes towards goal late in the half, were the openings Villa created. Big improvement required.

Leeds 1-0 #AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 2:51 PM
GOAL: Leeds open the scoring as Villa fail to deal with a wide free-kick. Emi Martinez lost out while trying to claim the ball before Ezri Konsa's clearance goes in off Lukas Nmecha.

Leeds 1-0 #AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
We're underway at Elland Road...

Leeds 0-0 #AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
#AVFC starting XI vs Leeds: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Bogarde, Barkley, Maatsen, Hemmings, Malen, Sancho, Guessand.
November 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Aston Villa target their sixth win in seven league matches this afternoon against a Leeds side that dropped into the bottom three yesterday. Villa have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League games at Elland Road.

#AVFC
November 23, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Unai Emery says Harvey Elliott has needed more time to adapt at #AVFC than others, and he currently prefers different options, including Emi Buendia.

"He's working very well - he's a good guy and his commitment is fantastic - but others are performing."
Unai Emery makes Harvey Elliott admission as loanee's game time discussed
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has preferred Emi Buendia to Harvey Elliott so far this season
www.birminghammail.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Unai Emery says Ollie Watkins has his - and Aston Villa's - full support as he works to end his goal drought.

Watkins has scored just once in 16 matches this season, and only four times in his last 30 appearances for Villa.

#AVFC
Unai Emery makes Ollie Watkins stance clear amid Aston Villa goal drought
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has only scored four goals in his last 30 appearances for the club
www.birminghammail.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash, Lamare Bogarde, and Andres Garcia are all available for selection this weekend, and Unai Emery is confident Amadou Onana will get through training tomorrow as well.

#AVFC
Villa handed injury boosts ahead of Leeds clash as Unai Emery provides updates
Aston Villa may only be without one player for their trip to Leeds United
www.birminghammail.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:07 PM