Sports News of Monday, 4 April 2016

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Jordan leaves Chelsea match with dignity intact

Jordan Ayew Jordan Ayew

Aston Villa’s woeful Premier League campaign continued this weekend as they were thumped 4-0 by a Chelsea side who remain unbeaten in the league under caretaker boss Guus Hiddink.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, an Alexandre Pato penalty and a Pedro double was enough to condemn Villa to their 22nd league defeat of the season and puts them ever closer to an inevitable relegation.

It has simply been a season to forget for the Villains, and the encounter with Chelsea summed up their season as far too many players either underperformed or were simply not good enough to compete.

Very few could leave Villa Park knowing they put in a performance worthy of gracing the top-flight, yet not all of Villa’s squad had shockers as striker Jordan Ayew admirably looked a class apart.

Shots Key Passes Take-ons Touches Pass-accuracys Ball Recoveries Mins Played
Jordan Ayew 6 2 6 62 91.7% 3 90
As shown by the table provided by Opta, the 24-year-old was busy throughout the 90 minutes and could certainly walk off the Villa Park pitch with his head held high after a decent individual display.

The Ghana international posted six attempts on goal, two key passes, six successful take-ons, 62 touches, a pass-accuracy rate of 91.7% and three recoveries - all figures which rank among his side’s best.

With Villa currently manager-less and lacking in any sort of direction, facing a Chelsea side who remain unbeaten in the league under Hiddink was also going to be a difficult ask.

Yet, the manner in which the visitors just brushed the hosts aside would have disappointed the Villa supporters most and such an inept display has become all-too familiar at Villa Park these days.

It’s hard to see any Premier League side wanting their players this summer, though if one had to choose arguably Ayew would have done enough to earn another crack at top-flight football.