Unai Emery did not mince his words after Aston Villa were held to a 1-1 draw by ten-man Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, sharply criticising his players for being “lazy” and lacking the identity and fight that he expects.
Villa, who finally ended a goal drought in the Premier League through Matty Cash, might have expected to take all three points after Sunderland went down to ten men, but instead left Wearside frustrated and manager Emery visibly irritated.
Sunderland’s left-back Reinildo Mandava saw red in the 33rd minute for violent conduct after a late challenge on Matty Cash. Initially missed by the referee, the red card was awarded following a VAR review. Despite the numerical advantage Villa had for over half the match, they failed to take control in a way their manager demanded.
The breakthrough came in the 67th minute when Cash unleashed a long-range strike, Villa’s first league goal of the season, following a series of errors from Sunderland’s goalkeeper, Robin Roefs.
But the joy was short-lived. Just eight minutes later Wilson Isidor, helped by a clever assist from Granit Xhaka, tucked home a low finish to restore parity. Sunderland, even a man down, settled into a determined defensive block and managed to frustrate Villa into unforced errors and a lack of intensity.
After the match, Emery was critical of his players’ performance rather than just the result. “We were lazy sometimes in defence. For example, when we conceded we were lazy,” he said, adding that the team was not playing with the style or confidence he expects.
He stressed that players must rediscover the identity that has been central to Villa’s recent successes, particularly over the last three years, when the team have often impressed with both structure and spirit.
Emery insisted he was not angry about the result per se, but about how the result came. “I am frustrated and disappointed for how we played, how we are not feeling comfortable with our style,” he said. He noted that even with the extra man, his side had failed to dictate the match, failed to dominate as he would have liked, and failed to impose their style of play.
For Sunderland, promoted back into the Premier League this season, the draw was a hard-earned point. Despite their early setback, the team adapted their game plan following the red card.
Manager Régis Le Bris praised his players for their organisation, resilience and willingness to suffer together. “We reacted very well,” he said, pointing out that his side, even reduced in numbers, had shown character and composure.
Villa’s winless streak in the Premier League continues, now stretching to five matches, with only three points from those opening games. The goal by Cash ended a long ominous run of four matches without scoring in the league.
Villa now sit in the relegation zone, 18th in the table, while Sunderland move up to a more comfortable mid-table position, their point tally reflecting a promising start under Le Bris.