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Unai Emery reacts as Aston Villa fans take mickey out of awful start and ending goal drought

Unai Emery reacts as Aston Villa fans take the mickey out of their side’s awful start to the 2025/26 season and ending their goal drought.

Brentford keeper Hakon Valdimarsson recovered from a blunder earlier in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup Third Round clash to save penalty kicks from John McGinn and Matty Cash in the shootout.

Harvey Elliott marked his full debut with Villa’s first goal of the season – their first in eight hours of competitive football.

After that, Aaron Hickey levelled the scoreline from a long throw. It was Hickey’s first goal since April 2022, after almost two years out with an injury.

After Elliott’s goal, those in the away end were heard cheekily chanting “we’ve scored a goal!”, have a watch of the videos below.

Villa fans however were left disappointed after their side lost 4-2 in the shootout, but still applauded the players before making their way off the pitch.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports: “We compete well. Some players needed to take time playing, getting confidence and getting fit. We scored a goal and drew but in the end we lost on penalty kicks. We are improving.”

How did the new players do? “Good, good. I decided to use different players and try to adapt as soon as possible. They played well and we created more chances than the last matches. We were more or less controlling the game but we want to concede less corners. We did a complete match in 90 minutes and if we were more clinical we could win.”

On Villa’s form: “We have some new players and we have some issues getting balance in the squad and now we are progressing in the right way that I want.”

To the club media, Emery said:“We improved things and we scored one goal, which is important as well.

“We drew but we created chances to win the match. I think we deserved something more – we competed well.

“We used in the starting XI some players who joined us in the last moments of the transfer window. They need minutes to get confidence and feel comfortable in our structure, trying to adapt as soon as possible.

“They played and they performed well. We created chances and in the last minute were pushing to win the match, and I think the spirit we showed today is the spirit I want.

“I’m grateful for the supporters. Their effort was here and they were supporting us. We’re a little bit disappointed, but we have our way and I want to try to get strong in our way.

“Today we lost but I want to keep going, to keep improving things, giving some players minutes we need to add in the squad. We keep going thinking now about Sunderland on Sunday.

“Harvey Elliott showed his qualities to us and he scored one goal,” Emery said.

“The press we did with John McGinn was really fantastic, and then in 90 minutes we created three or four clear chances and even hit the post with Jadon Sancho.

“I think we’re getting better. There’s still work to do and we’re going to practice, preparing the game on Sunday.

“We have to work hard like we were doing, with the new structure and new players we have who joined us two weeks ago.

“We have to improve and we have to keep the same progression we were doing and showing today.”

Brentford manager Keith Andrews speaking to Sky Sports: “I am just delighted for the group really. A lot of players coming in and making debuts and Hakon was the hero after a testing night. I don’t care about mistakes. It is about the intentions of the players on a day-to-day basis.

“After the first 10 minutes, we were probably the better side and we grew into it. We gifted them a goal and then we did well. We are delighted to go through.”

On Aaron Hickey: “I think it is the journey for him and Rico Henry. We are eager to get them involved but it has got to be right. Aaron went away with Scotland and he has come back and he is champing at the bit. He is a special talent.”

On Brentford’s start to the season: “People might have felt I was trying to spin something in recent weeks but it was all genuine what I was saying. I don’t feel our players feel what is possible this season and I think we can have a great season.”

Brentford defender Aaron Hickey speaking to Sky Sports about his goal: “It was good. I’ve seen it last minute and thought ‘why not?’ And luckily it went in. I will go and have a look at it after this.

“The main thing for me is to try and get back in the team. We still have a lot to improve on and I am delighted to push on the boys who are playing.

“For the boys that don’t always play in the league matches, we all have a good character. We are all wanting to play and hopefully we put on a good show.”

Twitter users gave their thoughts while Unai Emery reacts as Aston Villa fans take the mickey out of the awful start and ending the goal drought…

@pubIad: When I die I’ll ask the villa to bury me so they can let me down one last time

@AVFC_Connor_: You’re a shambles, get these players and emery out of this club. Embarrassing to watch

@avfcjally: mentally preparing myself for relegation now so it doesn’t hurt so much when it happens.

@natsiobhan_: well done lads you gave zero effort 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@KD1892: This is why you don’t sub off your best player in Elliott

@jasoncfreeman: Is it fair to say that Bizot hadn’t done any research at all into Brentford’s penalty takers? He went the wrong way for every one, apart from one – where the went the right way but dived under it. Fair play to their keeper – he knew what he was doing.

@SummAVFC: Absolutely pathetic. Every single one of us just repeating ourselves. Slow. Stale. Absolutely diabolical. Shambolic performance. Bored of hearing PSR excuses, the players need to take responsibility for once, absolutely horrific lads.

@FC_Rankings: Least you’ve scored some goals in this one lads 👌

@AVHOOL: It’s not even enjoyable while watching it, there’s definitely a negative ora around this team

@NoelM1986: Getting genuinely worried now, no wins and only 1 goal which was a gift in 5 games against not the strongest batch of opponents. Everything is at a snails pace, some of the players genuinely don’t look arsed, we’re in big trouble #AVFC

@EC_AVFC: Unai Emery has given me opportunities to see things at Villa I never thought I would. First it was European away games, then Champions League qualification, then beating the best teams in the world. Nothing could make me turn on him. He’s earned a rough season. #AVFC

@KingEightyOne: One goal, that was absolutely gifted to us cos we failed to create anything again, and still ZERO wins. Cheers, lads, keep taking our money for this dross #avfc #utv #vtid

@joegaffney27: Looked better but yet still a lack of quality, that’s a concern. Making ourselves look very laughable so far and going into the European campaign with no sign of positivity is concerning for what lies ahead this season

@Callum_Stark1: Whatever is going on, you’ve gotta sort it out lads. We’ve gone from champions league to bottling the league cup early doors. You’re better than this lads.

@BJonesFootball: Our fan base doesn’t deserve to have a manager as good as Unai Emery, the fact I’m genuinely seeing #EmeryOut is outrageous. Can we improve? Yes. Does Unai deserve fair criticism? Yes. Should he be sacked 5 games into a new season? Not a chance, give your heads a wobble #AVFC

@matty__jeff: Possession FC. Try taking some risks and moving the ball quickly, not interesting in the slightest

@tbuckland123: Seriously worrying how poor we are, said it after the Palace game, and my option hasn’t changed. Out the cup and we will be in a relegation battle this year. Something has gone seriously wrong behind the scenes.

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