Express & Star

Aston Villa 3 Barnsley 1 - player ratings

Villa moved to within three points of the automatic promotion places after a 3-1 win over Barnsley.

Published

We rate the players following a fourth straight league win.

Sam Johnstone

Had almost nothing to do for the first hour apart from pick the ball out of the net. Then saved well from Kieffer Moore and Tom Bradshaw to deny Barnsley a possible route back in. 7/10.

Ahmed Elmohamady

Delivered an inch perfect cross for Hogan’s opener and linked up well with Snodgrass on the right. One brief moment of alarm in the second half aside, solid defensively. 7/10.

James Chester

Had a mad minute in the second half when he twice allowed Moore to escape. Other than that was his usual, dependable self. 7/10.

John Terry

Found the lanky Moore an awkward character and wasn’t quite so commanding as usual. His calming presence still helped Villa ride the second half storm. 7/10

Alan Hutton

Not quite up there with the best of his recent performances. Still a more than satsifactory outing. 7/10.

Birkir Bjarnason

Kept his place in the team following an impressive substitute outing in the win at Forest. Finally seems to have found his home in a deep-lying central midfield role. 7/10.

Robert Snodgrass

Continued his recent rich vein of form with another impressive outing. Delivered several dangerous crosses into the box and the corner from which Hogan headed his second. 8/10.

Conor Hourihane

Restored Villa’s two-goal cushion with a cool finish and should perhaps have bagged another in the second half. Kept the ball moving quickly in midfield. 7/10.

Albert Adomah

Electric in the first-half, when he frequently bounded down the wing and linked well with Grealish. Tired past the hour mark. 7/10.

Scott Hogan

Confirmed his confidence is now fully restored with two goals inside the opening seven minutes. Came inches away from bagging a hat-trick. 8/10.

Star Man: Jack Grealish

The glue that holds Villa together in attack, Grealish is in his most consistent form since 2015. His great vision brings others into the game, while his passing was frequently a delight. Ghosted past two defenders before setting up Hourihane for Villa’s third. 8/10.

Substitutes

Josh Onomah (for Adomah, 77 mins)

Brought late energy to the midfield.

Glenn Whelan (for Hourihane, 86)

Mopped up neatly.

Keinan Davis (for Hogan, 90)

The briefest of cameos.

Subs not used: Taylor, Lansbury, Elphick, Bunn (gk).