Aston Villa scored three goals in nine second half minutes in front of a raucous home crowd to end Everton’s unbeaten start to the season.
The most played fixture in English football, the first half was an even contest, both sides creating chances and getting into good positions in the final third but lacking that final touch of quality.
Tyrone Mings had the best opportunity in the 7th minute, his header denied by a brilliant reaction save from Asmir Begovic, the Bosnian & Herzegovinian goalkeeper in for the injured Jordan Pickford.
Salomon Rondon, who replaced the injured Richarlison, went closest for Everton ten minutes later, inches away from Demarai Gray’s cross.
Villa right-back Matty Cash also dragged an effort wide as the first half ended goalless.
Everton then had the best chance to go in front in the 65th minute, Gray curling wide when well placed inside the Villa penalty area.
Villa were ahead with their next attack just a minute later, Cash scoring his first goal for the side after cutting onto his left foot, shrugging off Lucas Digne and blasting past Begovic into the roof of the net.
Digne then put Villa 2-0 up three minutes later, flicking Leon Bailey’s corner past Begovic into his own goal.
Jacob Ramsey almost made it 3-0 from kick off, dispossessing Everton midfielder Allan but firing wide when Danny Ings was in a better position.
It was three five minutes later however, Bailey collecting Ings’ cross-field pass before striking past Begovic. It was the Jamaican’s first goal for the club since his summer move from German side Bayer Leverkusen.
Unfortunately for Dean Smith, Bailey, who had been subbed on in the 61st minute, pulled up with a knock to his thigh in the 82nd minute and had to be withdrawn.
Directly involved in two goals in his 21 minutes on the pitch, his contribution to the game will have nonetheless delighted his manager.
On the other hand, Everton boss Rafael Benitez cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines. Just as he had seen his team do to Burnley on Monday night, Villa did to them, taking the game away from his side with a blistering second half spell.
He will have been particularly disappointed with his side’s defending for the third goal, Ben Godfrey giving Bailey acres of space to run into.
However, with the injured Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin to come back into the side, the Spaniard will know that the Blues will soon put this game behind them.
The result keeps the Merseyside club on 10 points but moves them down to fifth by virtue of their weaker goal difference. Villa, meanwhile, move up to 10th on 7 points after picking up their second win of the season.
