Matt Maher analysis as Aston Villa's slow start continues at Everton

Matt Maher brings his analysis of Aston Villa's 0-0 draw with Everton.

Transcript

00:00Good evening from Merseyside where the wait for a first Villa goal, first Villa win of the season continued today.

00:08Everton nil, Villa nil and in truth this was a point gained for Villa rather than two lost.

00:15Yet again for the fourth consecutive game they failed to score, they never really looked like scoring.

00:20In fact they were indebted to Eby Martinez for producing two huge saves to prevent Everton scoring.

00:30And Villa probably losing the game.

00:32Martinez was obviously the story in the week with his return to Boddymore Heath having failed to get a move away during the summer.

00:40He was straight back in the team today and boy did Villa need him.

00:44Saved in the first half from a deflected Jack Grealish shot with his legs.

00:47And an even better save in the second half from Michael Keane.

00:51Header from a Grealish cross that looked for all the world that he was going to break the deadlock.

00:55Martinez proving why he's such a good goalkeeper and why he's always going to get in Villa's team if he's fit and at the club.

01:04Some fans perhaps still a bit unhappy with what happened over the summer.

01:08Clearly he wanted to leave.

01:10But as he's just put on social media a few moments ago, when he has the crest on his shirt, he always gives his all.

01:16And he certainly gave his all today.

01:18That was one half of the story.

01:20The other half of the story for Villa is their lack of goals.

01:24Well, not so much their lack of goals, their lack of looking like they're ever going to score a goal.

01:28This is the first time that Villa have ever gone through the first four matches of the season without scoring.

01:34And it's their longest run without a goal since they went six games without scoring under Paul Lambert.

01:40And those were pretty dark days back then.

01:43Obviously, since Una Emery came in, there's been a huge energy around the club.

01:47You couldn't fault their commitment today, their commitment in defence as well.

01:51You know, they really fought for the clean sheet.

01:53But barring an Emmy Buendia shot that was deflected narrowly wide in the second half, Villa never really, never really threatened.

02:01You know, and they've got to get better.

02:03You know, you'd hesitate to call this a step forward, to be honest.

02:06They just look way off what you'd expect them to be and way off what we've seen in recent seasons.

02:13So, a big day for Martinez, an impressive performance.

02:16What we already knew was a really good keeper.

02:18What we don't know is how Villa are going to get better.