Aston Villa impressed on their way to a 3-1 win over Burnley on Sunday.
Aston Villa travelled to Turf Moor and put newly-promoted Burnley to the sword to make it back to back Premier League wins for the Midlands club.
A first-half brace from Matty Cash, and a second-half strike from £52 million summer signing Moussa Diaby ensured that Unai Emery’s side took all three points back to Villa Park.
Emery was impressed with Cash in particular. The 26-year-old played in a more advanced role on the right flank than he has in the past, and took advantage by scoring twice. He didn’t manage a single goal at all last season.
If Emery can coax this new dimension to Cash’s game out of the 12-cap Poland international on a regular basis, then the £14 million that Aston Villa paid Nottingham Forest to acquire his services in 2020 will soon look like inspired business.
In recent seasons, Cash has been a solid, reliable, if unspectacular figure for Aston Villa. He will now take confidence from this performance and look to kick on and become a consistent attacking threat.
Emery has his say on Cash
Emery heaped praise on Cash after the final whistle. Speaking to BBC Sport, the Spanish coach assessed Cash’s qualities and performance, saying, “he played as a winger when he was younger and he can be, for us, important…today he played as a winger and he did perfect. He scored two goals and he helped us like I think he can.”
The manager will also have been pleased with the contribution of Lucas Digne on the opposite flank. The Frenchman got an assist for Diaby’s goal.
Diaby himself was once again a stand out player for Aston Villa, picking up where he left off against Everton last time out. The attacker is already making himself a star for his new club.
Aston Villa have responded brilliantly to the hammering they received at the hands of Newcastle United on the opening day of the season, and Emery deserves credit for that.
