Emery on Rogers: "(He was) working for the team, but today he was not being clinical offensively. He needs to take experiences today, not playing every well, the crowd not being happy with him and him getting his experiences and grow up through it.” #AVFC

Viewed positively, #AVFC are unbeaten in previous four matches in normal time (losing to Brentford on pens) & have conceded two goals in four games. Some good individual displays tonight but some players' understandably low on confidence. But this is a platform, nonetheless

FT: Villa 1-0 Bologna #AVFC secure their first win of the season and oh my, they desperately needed that. Made hard work of things in the second half and concerns are still, clearly, there, but it's a win and the first half showed some promise. Hope is they now build momentum.

Think there is some surprise here that Harvey Elliott hasn't been called upon yet. #AVFC

Lucas Digne replaces Ian Maatsen. #AVFC

Bologna's Castro heads onto the crossbar. He should score. #AVFC escape

Watkins penalty saved. #AVFC still 1-0

Penalty Villa. Watkins fouled #AVFC

Bologna able to put pressure on Villa's backline (who are defending well) as Villa's forward players have reverted to what we have seen: loose passes and slow decision-making. The game is there to be won as #AVFC will have so much space if they get right the first few passes

Sancho and Watkins coming on. #AVFC

#AVFC in danger of surrendering the initiative, here. Struggling to connect passes. Emery not happy with Cash after being caught upfield (may have been a foul on him). But given how Bologna play, Villa never too far away from attacking lots of space

Villa 1-0 Bologna Much better. It's a favourable stylistic match-up. Bologna pressing but #AVFC have huge space to play if they break the first pressure phase. Has lent to playing forward quickly & with pace in attack. Aggressive and high out of possession and better ideas in it

That sadly sums up Morgan Rogers' recent struggles. First time he's had the chance to drive at defenders, really. #AVFC

This game just feels so suited to Pau's passing and Maatsen... couldn't really ask for a better style. Only takes one pass and #AVFC are 2v2 on their backline... 13 touches in opposition box, too, which is a marked improvement

Each #AVFC picking up an identified opponent from Bologna goal kicks. Villa's defensive line is aggressive and essentially playing Bologna at their own man-marking, who haven't seemed to work out that a lot of space and risky passes quite suit a Villa team which needs confidence.

#AVFC on top here. Bologna playing into their hands defensively. Maatsen's been brilliant - trying to run beyond Bologna's high line. Bologna not compact as they are leaving huge space in behind (Malen and Guessand love it) and centrally (Buendia, Rogers love it).

A well-worked corner routine finds Rogers, who miskicks his effort. The ball is half cleared but only to John McGinn on the edge of the box. His shot is low and finds the back of the net. Big early goal for confidence. A good intensity, here. 1-0 #AVFC

Bologna snapping into challenges. High line and so aggressive. Wanting to win the ball high. #AVFC have broke through the pressure twice - Guessand's pace ended with a shot saved & then a corner Almost like Bologna's game plan is making Villa play quicker - may be a good thing.

European nights at Villa Park are back #AVFC

European nights at Villa Park are back #AVFC

Emiliano Martinez suffering from muscle pain, hence his absence tonight. Not thought to be serious. #AVFC

Emery putting faith in his creative hub behind the No 9 to start firing. He has said #AVFC have lacked quality and the final pass in attack but keeps his No 10s, Rogers and Buendia, in the starting XI. Pau's passing relied upon if Bologna continue to press man-to-man.

Unai Emery: "Villa Park is such a special place on European nights. We need your energy and support again. We are so, so grateful for your support. We know it's not easy making that commitment to matches, but you are always supporting us. We are very happy that you are here." #AVFC

It started with the late team coach to Sunderland. Then the game and "lazy" comment." Then Monchi's exit happened. “We have to keep Emery happy.” Aston Villa, Unai Emery and the reaction internally after three difficult days. Piece @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

"It’s not changing nothing," said Unai Emery of Monchi's departure and Roberto Olabe's arrival. "Only the man that it is." Emery also states #AVFC are improving, cited in three successive away draws. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Emery made a point of saying that his frustration simmered once he had watched the game against Sunderland back. The focus has been on improving "the structure "within our idea" while trying to "identify" the problems. He thinks they are starting to correct them. #AVFC

Emery: "It’s something progressively we were working knowing we were speaking with Monchi.He worked the transfer window & after it finished, we were speaking about our relationship here, with the club & working together. We decided with the club,with him,with Roberto Olabe." #AVFC

Ezri Konsa on Emery's "lazy" comment: "It’s a fair comment. Everyone’s seen the picture and goal. We know it’s not good enough. Here, we try and pride ourselves on playing a high line is something the boss is trying to install. We didn’t get it right." #AVFC

Konsa: The boss isn’t a big speaker, sometimes he keeps himself to himself. As players we have been in the game for a long time.We know what we need to do, what we've done wrong. “When your manager doesn’t speak to good, it’s to a good thing. It gives a bit of fuel to you.” #AVFC

Ezri Konsa on whether #AVFC players have spoken between themselves: “I don’t think we are at that stage yet to have meetings or people call it crisis meetings. We have a great captain in John Mcginn. After that game, he said a few words to keeps us going, to keep encouraging us."

Monchi & his staff expressed sadness at his exit.Yet the window was arduous, especially with the actual level of authority they had. Roberto Olabe's arrival doubles down on belief in Emery's project, which has brought immense success. #AVFC @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

#AVFC confirm Roberto Olabe as president of football operations. Olabe has been on Villa's radar before & Villa's power structure will remain the same. Monchi had not been seen at Bodymoor as often lately - staff sensed Villa were planning a restructure. www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

An #AVFC @theathleticfc.bsky.social special out now. Listen on your usual platforms or watch the show on YouTube: youtu.be/aI9C_POqtGE?...

Wonderful piece from @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social on Aston Villa’s new sporting director, Roberto Olabe: As ever, full insight on @theathleticfc.bsky.social: #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Monchi's #AVFC exit: ◾️Sensed but still a surprise ◾️Some staff told on Monday afternoon but players were unaware ◾️Transfer window struggles/consequences ◾️Emery's power, inner circle and Olabe ◾️Flekken planned to replace Martinez ◾️Club mood ➕More www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

#AVFC reach agreement to appoint Roberto Olabe as president of football operations. Set to be announced & will replace Monchi, who is expected to remain in an advisory capacity to Villa’s ownership group, V Sports. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

#AVFC in advanced negotiations to appoint Roberto Olabe as president of football operations. Olabe is set to replace Monchi, who is expected to remain in an advisory capacity to Villa’s ownership group, V Sports. Story w/ @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Aston Villa's sporting director, Monchi, is set to leave the club. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

The league season is only five games old, yet the mood among the squad and supporters alike is already weary. Piece on Aston Villa's struggles, toils and last season's Champions League quarter-finalists now appearing so flat: #AVFC @theathleticfc.bsky.social 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

PSG officials said Aston Villa gave them the hardest test on their way to winning the Champions League. Now the mood and form is polarising - what has changed and what has gone wrong? Piece @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

Full quotes from Unai Emery after #AVFC's draw with Sunderland. Says his team were “lazy”, Harvey Elliott was passing too quickly, needing to connect with shorter passes and admitted his players were not fighting like he wanted. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

Q: Why were they lazy? "Ah, lazy - sometimes lazy when we are playing here away, we have to fight the duels, and we were not fighting all duels. I watched the goal we conceded and we were lazy. We were lazy, but all the team, not the centre backs or Cash. We are lazy." #AVFC

Emery: "My worries is through how we are not feeling confident getting our identity. I am missing it. We have to get confidence. Some players are not confident." #AVFC

Asked Unai Emery why the same players are now lacking identity. "We were lazy sometimes. Lazy. The goal we conceded, we were lazy. Perhaps that’s because we didn’t play in our style." #AVFC

Unai Emery: "Frustrated and disappointed a little bit, but not with the result. It should have been easier to take advantage [against 10 players] but we were not playing with our identity, with the ideas we have been building in the last three years." #AVFC

The season is only five games old, but the alarm bells are loud at #AVFC. They are so far off it and their prior form, it's pretty unbelievable. Not one thing looked encouraging after Sunderland went down to ten Today was a new low. Truly dreadful.

Full-time: Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa. 10-man Sunderland fully deserving of at least a point. They were everything their opponents were not. Woeful from Villa. #AVFC

Cash has been #AVFC's biggest threat. Neither he or Watkins get on the end of Sancho's good delivery. Konsa drops to the floor and punches the pitch. Three minutes left of stoppage time.

Sunderland may be disappointed if they don't win this. They would've had ten men for over an hour. Emery is growing frustrated with #AVFC desperation, not playing short, trying more ambitious passes etc. Three minutes left of normal time

One team has a regular threat, the other smashes one in from 25 odd yards. Which one has ten men? If the first half was what we've expected from Villa this season, the second half (so far) has plunged to new depths. Terrible. Sunderland fully deserving. #AVFC