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Aston Villa 0-0 Burnley: Four home games without a win for Villa

By Neil JohnstonBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Premier Leaguecomments519

Aston Villa"s Bertrand Traore shoots at goal in the Premier League match against Burnley
Aston Villa attempted 15 shots in the first half against Burnley, the most by any side without scoring in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League match since September 2019

Aston Villa did everything but score in a thoroughly entertaining goalless stalemate with Burnley as the hosts failed to win for the fourth successive home match.

In a pulsating game, Villa had 15 shots in the first half alone and twice hit the woodwork.

Matthew Lowton denied his former club by hacking Ahmed El Mohamady's shot off the line before Nick Pope tipped Anwar El Ghazi's attempt on to the bar.

Kortney Hause headed against the post while Burnley's best chance fell to Chris Wood whose header was clawed away by Emiliano Martinez.

Despite failing to win, Villa have kept six clean sheets in the Premier League this season - more than any other side - while boss Dean Smith said he was not concerned by his side's failure to score.

"We had enough chances to win two games, maybe even three," he said. "My concern is when you're not getting chances.

"We look like a team unlikely to concede goals as well, when you do that you'll accumulate points."

Villa rue missed chances

Villa will wonder how on earth they did not manage to hit the net after peppering the Burnley goal with 27 attempts.

On a frustrating night for Smith's side, Netherlands forward El Ghazi marked his first Premier League start of the season with eight attempts alone.

The last time Villa won at home they put seven past reigning champions Liverpool in an extraordinary game. This could easily have been a similar outcome but the hosts were not clinical enough.

Pope made six saves in total with his fingertip stop to deny El Ghazi the best of the lot.

Even at the end Jack Grealish and Tyrone Mings went close but Villa, who were averaging more than two goals per game before this, failed to score for just the second time this season.

Grealish was outstanding in midfield but even he was left frustrated as Burnley dug deep to stop their opponents, who remain 11th in the table after a first draw of the season, from scoring.

Villa had enough chances to win two games - Smith

Clarets show resilience

The Clarets had dropped back into the relegation zone after Fulham's draw with Brighton on Wednesday but a third unbeaten game lifts them back above the Cottagers.

Since being hammered 5-0 at Manchester City on 28 November, Sean Dyche's side have held Everton, won at Arsenal and frustrated Villa.

They played their part in an end-to-end thriller at Villa Park, Martinez made to work hard for his latest clean sheet.

Ashley Westwood had already gone close with a first-time shot when Wood got on the end of Josh Brownhill's cross to force the Villa keeper into a diving save.

Robbie Brady and Ben Mee also forced saves while Dwight McNeil's driving runs caused Villa problems all game, but the Clarets' meagre return of six goals in 18 hours of Premier League action this season needs addressing.

Prospective Burnley owner ALK Capital is hoping to conclude its takeover of the club in time to give Dyche a chance to bolster his squad in the January transfer window.

After a tough start to the season, at least his side is beginning to move in the right direction.

"It wasn't a great result, just a good result," said Dyche. "We had to get back to being strong defensively and we have done that.

"We had a big result at Arsenal but doing the basics well has been important to us since we've been in the Premier League.

"Now we have to find the balance of opening the team up enough to make sure we score more goals."

Burnley trying to get balance right - Dyche

Another clean sheet for Pope - the stats

  • Since his debut in September 2017, Burnley's Nick Pope has kept 31 Premier League clean sheets - the second most by an English goalkeeper, after Jordon Pickford (34).
  • Anwar El Ghazi attempted eight shots against Burnley without scoring - the most by an Aston Villa player in a Premier League game since John Carew vs Reading in February 2008 (8 shots, 0 goals).
  • Of the six occasions that a player has been fouled as many as seven times in a Premier League game this season, half have been against Jack Grealish - including this game tonight (7).

What's next?

Aston Villa's next match is a West Midlands derby at West Brom on Sunday (19:15 GMT), while Burnley have an extra day to prepare for the visit of Wolves on Monday (17:30 GMT).

Player of the match

GrealishJack Grealish

with an average of 7.70

Aston Villa

  1. Squad number10Player nameGrealish
    Average rating

    7.70

  2. Squad number26Player nameMartínez
    Average rating

    6.62

  3. Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
    Average rating

    6.14

  4. Squad number11Player nameWatkins
    Average rating

    6.10

  5. Squad number21Player nameEl Ghazi
    Average rating

    6.08

  6. Squad number19Player nameNakamba
    Average rating

    5.99

  7. Squad number30Player nameHause
    Average rating

    5.95

  8. Squad number15Player nameTraoré
    Average rating

    5.91

  9. Squad number5Player nameMings
    Average rating

    5.90

  10. Squad number27Player nameAhmed El Mohamady
    Average rating

    5.71

  11. Squad number18Player nameTargett
    Average rating

    5.45

  12. Squad number39Player nameDavis
    Average rating

    5.15

Burnley

  1. Squad number5Player nameTarkowski
    Average rating

    7.13

  2. Squad number1Player namePope
    Average rating

    7.01

  3. Squad number2Player nameLowton
    Average rating

    6.51

  4. Squad number6Player nameMee
    Average rating

    6.29

  5. Squad number3Player nameTaylor
    Average rating

    6.22

  6. Squad number11Player nameMcNeil
    Average rating

    6.17

  7. Squad number12Player nameBrady
    Average rating

    6.16

  8. Squad number8Player nameBrownhill
    Average rating

    6.15

  9. Squad number18Player nameWestwood
    Average rating

    6.11

  10. Squad number19Player nameRodriguez
    Average rating

    5.85

  11. Squad number9Player nameWood
    Average rating

    5.83

  12. Squad number10Player nameBarnes
    Average rating

    5.79

  13. Squad number23Player namePieters
    Average rating

    5.58

  14. Squad number27Player nameVydra
    Average rating

    5.58

Line-ups

Aston Villa

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 26Martínez
  • 27El Mohamady
  • 30Hause
  • 5Mings
  • 18Targett
  • 7McGinn
  • 19Nakamba
  • 15TraoréSubstituted forDavisat 80'minutes
  • 10Grealish
  • 21El Ghazi
  • 11WatkinsBooked at 84mins

Substitutes

  • 3Taylor
  • 12Steer
  • 14Hourihane
  • 22Engels
  • 24Guilbert
  • 39Davis
  • 41J Ramsey

Burnley

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Pope
  • 2Lowton
  • 5Tarkowski
  • 6Mee
  • 3Taylor
  • 12BradyBooked at 32minsSubstituted forPietersat 90+1'minutes
  • 18Westwood
  • 8Brownhill
  • 11McNeil
  • 9WoodSubstituted forVydraat 82'minutes
  • 19RodriguezSubstituted forBarnesat 65'minutes

Substitutes

  • 10Barnes
  • 15Peacock-Farrell
  • 23Pieters
  • 26Bardsley
  • 27Vydra
  • 28Long
  • 41Benson
Referee:
Craig Pawson

Match Stats

Home TeamAston VillaAway TeamBurnley
Possession
Home59%
Away41%
Shots
Home27
Away6
Shots on Target
Home7
Away4
Corners
Home11
Away1
Fouls
Home17
Away19

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Aston Villa 0, Burnley 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Aston Villa 0, Burnley 0.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa).

  4. Post update

    Ashley Barnes (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  5. Substitution

    Substitution, Burnley. Erik Pieters replaces Robbie Brady.

  6. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Matt Targett.

  7. Post update

    Attempt missed. Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ahmed El Mohamady with a cross following a set piece situation.

  8. Post update

    Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Ben Mee (Burnley).

  10. Post update

    Foul by Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

  11. Post update

    Robbie Brady (Burnley) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  12. Post update

    Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Ashley Barnes (Burnley).

  14. Booking

    Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.

  15. Post update

    Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

  16. Post update

    (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Post update

    Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Ben Mee (Burnley).

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Burnley. Matej Vydra replaces Chris Wood.

  20. Post update

    Matt Targett (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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Comments

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519 comments

  • Comment posted by ianH, at 19:55 17 Dec 2020

    Jack Grealish spends more time on the grass than Bob Marley

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 20:10 17 Dec 2020

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      Thought Grealish was just given a diving ban a few days ago? Oh it was a driving ban? Never mind.

  • Comment posted by DaveP1982, at 19:57 17 Dec 2020

    27 shots and to be honest we've wasted about 20 of them. Could've been another 7-2 but it is what it is, and well done Burnley for staying in the game throughout. Here's hoping Santa brings our players some new scoring boots!

    • Reply posted by Lets Agree To Disagree, at 20:14 17 Dec 2020

      Lets Agree To Disagree replied:
      Burnley used the 'dope-a-rope' technique to perfection today. Villa punched and punched but got nowhere.

  • Comment posted by paul hirst, at 20:02 17 Dec 2020

    Another clean sheet from Burnley and sheer bloody minded resilience from the clarets. But watching this game purely as a neutral it was more a case of Villa throwing two points away, to have so many attempts on goal and not even score atleast once must of left Dean Smith a very annoyed coach.

    • Reply posted by Vox Populi, at 20:09 17 Dec 2020

      Vox Populi replied:
      Spot on

  • Comment posted by Specialist_in_tailoring, at 19:56 17 Dec 2020

    Was Grealish drunk? He kept on falling over. Hopefully someone can drive him home

    • Reply posted by Uncle Mort, at 20:01 17 Dec 2020

      Uncle Mort replied:
      Grow up

  • Comment posted by Westmoor, at 20:09 17 Dec 2020

    Nice to see Jack Grealish's skill and ability to turn and drive forward on the pitch are infinitely better than in a car park!

    • Reply posted by felixstowe_jak, at 20:48 17 Dec 2020

      felixstowe_jak replied:
      Needs to have some driving lessons and give up the pop.

  • Comment posted by cornwall-mart, at 19:55 17 Dec 2020

    Dean Smith needs to spend all the training time on shooting practice and nothing else!!! Excellent final balls , shocking finishing.

    • Reply posted by Smoking Barrels, at 14:01 18 Dec 2020

      Smoking Barrels replied:
      Agree on this - Soft side foot shots from El Ghazi - no venom in the shots, was more like keeper practice. definitely 2 points lost though.

  • Comment posted by Harry, at 20:06 17 Dec 2020

    Villa probably deserved to win, but they couldn't quite get past Tarkowski, Mee and Pope. 3 excellent players.

    • Reply posted by gnash96, at 21:11 17 Dec 2020

      gnash96 replied:
      I don't know how Mee stayed on the pitch with all of his fouls

  • Comment posted by Bullster, at 20:19 17 Dec 2020

    Can see Burnley staying up, Dyche does well on limited resources.

    • Reply posted by gnash96, at 21:12 17 Dec 2020

      gnash96 replied:
      I hope not, the end of hoofball in football will be a good day for all fans

  • Comment posted by fudge , at 20:37 17 Dec 2020

    I love these comment sections after a Burnley game when yet another group of fans get upset when they cant score against us. We know we don't offer too much going forwards and accept our failings but 5 yrs in the prem
    with 2 top ten finishes and 14 clean sheets last season with virtually no money spent at all! Give us a break and try and look past your tribal knee jerk attitudes for once.

    • Reply posted by Origo, at 21:00 17 Dec 2020

      Origo replied:
      Thats history old chap.

  • Comment posted by cealy, at 20:06 17 Dec 2020

    How many attempts does El Ghazi need....I remember his poor finishing last season

    • Reply posted by Sir Shawcross, at 20:49 17 Dec 2020

      Sir Shawcross replied:
      Infinite, obviously.

  • Comment posted by Clive, at 20:00 17 Dec 2020

    That's how you Nick a point away from home with that defence and England's no 1

    • Reply posted by Vox Populi, at 12:21 18 Dec 2020

      Vox Populi replied:
      How can a team have defended well when the opponents had 27 shots on target with one off the line and two hitting the woodwork and many of these were clear chances which we missed by our own ineptitude.
      Burnley worked hard and put in a shift alright but defended well? I don’t think the stats show that.

  • Comment posted by Navers, at 20:01 17 Dec 2020

    Seems like the most baffling 0-0 of the season. How were there no goals in it?

    • Reply posted by Do it properly, at 22:03 17 Dec 2020

      Do it properly replied:
      A goal is scored when the ball is hit into the goal - that rectangular thing at each the end of the pitch. If players trying to kick the ball into the goal kick it too high, or either side of the goal or hit a post or a player stops it going in its not a goal. Of 27 Villa shots, all either went wide, high, hit the post, hit a player or were caught by the goal keeper. So there were no goals.

  • Comment posted by Harry, at 20:11 17 Dec 2020

    Some pundits on here say this was boring. Please read the opening line of the report...."thoroughly entertaining match."

  • Comment posted by John Crayton, at 19:54 17 Dec 2020

    “ see you at the training ground in the morning lads and the session will consist solely of shooting practice ”!

    • Reply posted by Vox Populi, at 16:33 18 Dec 2020

      Vox Populi replied:
      Yep. And repeat.

  • Comment posted by squirrels , at 20:06 17 Dec 2020

    Fantastic point earned there. Thankfully it wasn't a boxing match or it would have been stopped! Over 25 shots but only 7 on target, Pope never stretched. UTC

  • Comment posted by Chris _H, at 21:21 17 Dec 2020

    As a Villa fan tonight's game was entertaining and frustrating in equal measure.

    Meanwhile HYS provides the usual morons who haven't seen the game who can't help but comment on Grealish and diving.

    • Reply posted by Hard Labour, at 21:50 17 Dec 2020

      Hard Labour replied:
      It's trolls mate. They'll all flock over to the Utd HYS if Sheff U get an equaliser.

  • Comment posted by Bootus Bootus Goalie, at 20:15 17 Dec 2020

    So pleased with Burnley, thought they might have parked the bus and just pleased they didn't have Jack Gealish driving it.

    • Reply posted by ancelotti_s left eyebrow is sentient, at 22:44 17 Dec 2020

      ancelotti_s left eyebrow is sentient replied:
      Officer: 'Do you plead guilty Mr Grealish ?'
      Jack Grealish: 'No officer, I'm innocent. That car was being driven by a guy called Jack Gealish'

  • Comment posted by Burnley Cowboy, at 19:53 17 Dec 2020

    UTC another point to safety

  • Comment posted by The Ginger Beer Snail, at 20:09 17 Dec 2020

    Problem is, Villa still have three or four Championship standard players despite all the cash being spent.

    El Ghazi and Traore to name but two....

    UTV

    • Reply posted by U16650765, at 20:18 17 Dec 2020

      U16650765 replied:
      El Ghazi spent the night taking out bulbs on the floodlights !

  • Comment posted by neil, at 20:06 17 Dec 2020

    I wonder how many goals it would've taken to give it a higher billing than the women's FIFA awards. Not even the great Lewandowski can topple BBCs agenda.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Thursday 17th December 2020