Matty Cash’s first Aston Villa targets in over a yr impressed Unai Emery’s facet to a 3-1 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor.
Cash got here into the facet as the one unenforced change from Villa’s 5-0 midweek Europa Convention League play-off win over Hibernian, and ensured there was no European hangover for his facet as he scored twice within the opening 20 minutes.
Lyle Foster gave Burnley hope with a strong strike two minutes into the second half, however Moussa Diaby restored Villa’s two-goal benefit simply after the hour as they ended a five-match winless league run on the highway.
Burnley constructed their Sky Guess Championship title on the again of a 21-match unbeaten run at dwelling, however have began life again within the Premier League with back-to-back defeats at Turf Moor.
Cash, enjoying in a sophisticated function on the best facet of Villa’s midfield, wanted solely eight minutes to interrupt the impasse, sliding in to poke dwelling Ollie Watkins’ cross after John McGinn’s lofted ball excessive had left Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford caught in two minds.
It was the Poland worldwide’s first purpose because the ultimate day of the 2021-22 season and the drama of Manchester Metropolis’s title-winning come-from-behind win over Villa, however there would quickly be one other with Cash at the center of a slick passing transfer.
Reducing in from the best to gather Watkins’ move, Cash laid the ball off for Diaby on the best facet of the field, then charged into the centre to lash dwelling the ensuing cross.
Burnley regarded rusty after the postponement of final weekend’s journey to Luton left them with an enforced relaxation and had been being overrun defensively as the possibilities stored coming.
Cash, brimming with confidence, tried a spectacular volley from Lucas Digne’s deep cross within the thirty fifth minute, however Hannes Delcroix, making his Burnley debut after arriving in midweek from Anderlecht, obtained in a block to ship it over the crossbar.
Cash once more linked up with Diaby, whose deflected cross discovered Watkins, however Trafford was in the best place to disclaim him from point-blank vary.
Burnley had executed little to threaten the purpose of Robin Olsen, making his first Premier League begin since New Yr’s Day with Emi Martinez sidelined by a calf pressure, however issues modified instantly at the beginning of the second half.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson, on instead, headed a deep ball again into the field and Foster had the facility to carry off Pau Torres, spinning to fireside past Olsen.
Burnley had been immediately on prime. Sander Berge despatched in a cross begging for a contact, then Zeki Amdouni triggered panic between Torres and Olsen.
Extra confusion between Olsen and Boubacar Kamara allowed Berge to run into the field, successful a nook from which Olsen did nicely to disclaim Delcroix a debut purpose.
Having coped with the stress, Villa hit Burnley on the break simply after the hour. McGinn shrugged off a shirt pull from Ameen Al-Dakhil to play in Digne, who pulled the ball again for Diaby to seek out the underside proper nook – the purpose surviving a VAR test for offside.
Watkins ought to have made it 4 within the 67th minute when he beat Delcroix to a low cross however Trafford once more denied him from shut vary, holding neatly.
Nicolo Zaniolo changed Diaby to make his Villa debut and virtually scored together with his first involvement, seeing his shot deflected broad, however the Italy worldwide ought to have squared for the unmarked Watkins.
Cash, nonetheless fancying a hat-trick, shot narrowly broad with 10 minutes left whereas Zaniolo flashed a strong effort simply over.
Burnley substitute Jay Rodriguez twice threatened Olsen’s purpose late on, however there was no means again for the hosts.
