Ross Barkley played a starring role in Aston Villa’s first away win since February 27th

Against his former club, Ross Barkley started for the Villans away at Goodison Park. The first time this fixture has been played this season.

The 27-year-old was placed in the number ten role on Saturday night, an occurrence which begs questions from supporters of the club. Due to the much liked idea of Scottish international John McGinn slotting in there and pushing up. However, this wasn’t the case for the former Evertonian.

In Villa’s pre-match warm-up, Barkley failed to control a soft pass from McGinn, something that would be misconstrued throughout the 90 minutes.

Playing in in the midfield trio, the 27-year-old played towards the left had side, allowing for him to link up with Matt Targett and Anwar El Ghazi down the left flank – battling it out against Seamus Coleman.

Often found doing some fancy flicks when controlling the ball, it took until the sixth minute for the former Everton man to bring it out of his locker. Leading to Villa’s opening chance of the game as Barkley eventually released to Ollie Watkins who was capable of finding McGinn. The 26-year-old let rip on Jordan Pickford’s goal however, the Scotsman’s effort ended up in the heights of the Gwladys Street End.

Villa’s style of high-pressing football paid off, breaking the deadlock on the 13^th minute via their record signing, Watkins, with Mason Holgate losing out to the England international, the forward buried his effort past Pickford.

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However, this was to be short lived for the Villans. Despite starting the better side and enjoying possession, the toffee’s first corner allowed for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to convert from the back post. Barkley lost his man who was able to latch on to Lucas Digne’s corner, not even Tyrone Mings’ attempted clearance wouldn’t provide any help as Everton struck level.

With Dean Smith already stating to the media that the club have no desire to sign the Chelsea loanee in the summer on a permanent deal, it’s a slight mystery as to why the midfielder often maintains his spot in Villa’s starting line-up.

Partially at fault for their opponents equaliser, zonal marking played no help in Smith’s defensive strategies, ultimately a mess at the back for the goal.

Barkley’s duties included taking free-kick’s and corner taking, with no natural crosser of the ball in the line-up, it was down to the loanee to provide the Villans with some form of danger from set plays.

The 27-year-old’s attempt of flair proved costly for Villa, an audacious effort to backheel the ball into the net was daring to say the least. Barkley opted for glory rather than the simple option in El Ghazi however, the Dutchman rattled the bar from about eight yards out. Perhaps the kick up the back side which Smith’s men had needed.

Barkley rattled the far post, after being played in on goal by Bertrand Traore, the Chelsea loanee created near euphoria amongst the Villa subs bench. Striking the wood-work on the 37^th minute, a confidence booster if anything for the midfielder.

Energy and aggression in attack has been very much the tale of Aston Villa’s campaign, no other side in the Premier League has hit the post more than the West Midlands club. Sky Sports’ Ron Walker echoed his thoughts on Villa’s relationship with the wood-work:

“If you don’t shoot, you don’t score, but if you do shoot, you might hit the post 20 times if you’re Aston Villa.”

Villa often have a loan player that comes in and impresses, the likes of Robert Snodgrass and Tammy Abraham for example. At the start of the season, the feeling was mutual for the Chelsea loanee. However, inconsistent performances have provided doubts.

“Exactly the same ref” The midfielder let the referee know his feelings after the toffee’s were awarded a free-kick in a similar situation the Villans had shortly before, passion and the desire to want to win is something that the fans desire from their team.

Shimmying away from the blue shirts, Barkley launched an attack for Villa six minutes into the second half. Coasting past the on-rushing toffee’s, the 27-year-old initiated a fine attack. Unfortunately for Villa, Watkins was unable to test Pickford as his effort was blocked by Ben Godfrey – His smartest move of the night in claret & blue.

It appears as if Smith’s men had finally found the ability to play without their star man, Jack Grealish. With the skipper having missed their previous ten league matches in which the Villans have only mustered two wins, the ability to build-up and create a dangerous attack has finally arrived albeit be too late in the season.

In extravagant fashion, El Ghazi handed Villa the lead on the 80^th minute. Curling in a fine effort from the edge of the box, leaving Pickford to pick that one out the back of the net. For some time that a goal had been coming, striking in the favour of the visitors, the Villans stole the points from the clutches of their hosts.

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However, as the clock ticked closer towards the 90, Villa’s midfield trio would fall victim to exhaustion. Options in Jacob Ramsey and Marvellous Nakamba were available for Smith to pick from but it took until the 87th minute until the Villans’ first change of the night – Ramsey replaced Traore.

“To the corner Ginny” Instructions were clear from Mings which echoed through the stands of Goodison Park, having not won since April 4^th, the desire to hold onto the lead bled through every man in claret & blue on the pitch. An inspiring performance from the Villans at long last, lifts into ninth place with five games to go.

Suffering a hamstring injury against Brighton back in late November, the 27-year-old failed to recapture his initial form for Villa. Out for nearly two months, it’s clear to see why Barkley hasn’t been performing to the levels that the fans desire. An injury which has plagued his career, all together the midfielder has been missing from action for a total of 249 days – hamstring issues alone.

Despite his proneness to injuries, Chelsea purchased Barkley from Everton for a total of £15,000,000. The midfielder was supposed to join the West London club much earlier in the summer window prior however, suffering his first long term injury prevented this from happening.

Having been likened to the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Michael Ballack by Roberto Martinez due to his pace and power, as well as technique. There’s no reason to question why Chelsea desired the midfielder’s signature.

Roberto Martinez says watching Ross Barkley reminds him of former Germany captain Michael Ballack…http://t.co/twdvWhJuEU #EFC

— Everton (@Everton) August 28, 2013

Current England manager, Gareth Southgate, attended the fixture at Goodison Park as Barkley put on one of his best display’s since returning from injury, perhaps providing a glimmer of hope for a spot in the Three Lions’ 26 man squad for the upcoming tournament.

Barkley made his World Cup debut for the Three Lions in 2014, in a 2-1 defeat to Italy. It took one year for the 27-year-old to score his first senior goal for the national side, netting against San Marino in the Euro 2016 qualifier. The Evertonian hasn’t been involved in the England squad since 2019, despite netting a brace as well as getting an assist, the midfielder has failed to capture the eyes of Southgate since.

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