John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings vs Celtic as 10 awarded after huge 4-2 win
Aston Villa have secured automatic qualification to the Champions League round of 16 after finishing eighth in the league phase table following a 4-2 win over Celtic at Villa Park.
It means Unai Emery’s side have avoided participation in the two-legged knockout play-off round, which is scheduled to be played next month. Instead, Villa can look forward to the round of 16 at the start of March.
Villa raced into a 2-0 lead as Morgan Rogers scored twice inside five minutes. After Reo Hatate missed a presentable chance to halve the deficit down the other end, Jacob Ramsey’s effort from close range hit the post after a deflection.
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Matty Cash was forced off in the 30th minute through injury, so John McGinn replaced him and moved into midfield alongside Youri Tielemans as Lamare Bogarde went to right-back.
Not long after Cash came off, Ollie Watkins’ delicate clip past Kasper Schmeichel was cleared off the line by Alistair Johnston. Villa would pay for not taking their chances as Adam Idah scored in the 36th and 38th minutes to level the game up.
Ollie Watkins restored Villa's lead on the hour mark as he finished off a counter-attack which was started by Kamara, before excellent work from Rogers, McGinn and Ramsey.
Watkins was denied a second shortly after, before he then missed a penalty as he slipped over before making contact with the ball. Rogers capped a memorable night at Villa Park by rounding off the win in second half added time as he bagged his hat-trick.
Player ratings
Emi Martinez
Martinez saved Hatate's effort before being beaten twice by Idah just minutes apart in the first half. 6
Matty Cash
After a strong start to the game, Cash was forced off injured with what appeared to be a lower leg injury. 7
Ezri Konsa
Konsa's job was made all the more difficult this evening when Cash came off as he then had to organise a makeshift backline. Idah got between Konsa and Bogarde to level it up at 2-2 before the break. 6
Boubacar Kamara
Boubacar Kamara was used in defence instead of midfield as he lined up alongside Konsa. He helped set up the counter-attack which Villa scored from to make it 3-2. 7
Lucas Digne
Digne was a threat in the final third and played an important role in Villa's opening goal. He did give Celtic their first chance of the game as Hatate was given a clear sight at goal after the left-back's misplaced pass. 6
Lamare Bogarde
Bogarde started alongside Youri Tielemans for the first 30 minutes of the game before he replaced Cash at right-back. He looked more comfortable playing in midfield, like when he impressed in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal. 6
Youri Tielemans
The Belgian had two different midfield partners in the game, but kept the ball well in the middle of the park despite it being a frantic match. 7
Leon Bailey
Bailey kept his width well, which allowed Rogers to make use of the space inside. The winger threatened to make things happen, but his final ball was lacking for the most part. He did play Rogers in late on to make it 4-2, but the England international's effort was blocked before he then scored his hat-trick. 7
Morgan Rogers
Big players turn up on big nights. Rogers was full of confidence, scoring two goals inside five minutes. Really, that should have been enough for Villa to go on and win comfortably. He showed excellent physicality to in the counter-attack which led to Villa's third of the night before bagging his hat-trick late on. Special. 10
Jacob Ramsey
Ramsey was unplayable in the first 30 minutes of the game, registering an assist for Rogers early on and played a key role in most of Villa's attacks. He was unfortunate not to put Villa 3-0 up when his effort from close range was deflected onto the post. He then grabbed a second assist of the night for Watkins' goal. 8
Ollie Watkins
Watkins bagged the third goal in front of the Holte and could have scored another shortly after before he then missed a penalty having slipped over. Still ran the Celtic backline ragged all night and played a key role as he provided two assists. 8
SUBS
John McGinn (for Cash, 30'): McGinn was relishing this game. Unfortunately, it was his block which helped the ball on its way to Idah to score Celtic's first. He was all action tonight, the skipper. Broke up a threatening Celtic counter-attack in the 71st minute. Strong performance from the Scot. 8
Ian Maatsen (for Digne, 74'): N/A
Subs not used: Olsen, Zych, Duran, Nedeljkovic, Swinkels, Patterson, Young.
GOALS
Villa: Rogers, (3', 5', 90+1'), Watkins (60')
Celtic: Idah (36', 38')
