Pundit says £35m Man City player actually had a ‘fantastic’ game against Aston Villa

Former Manchester City goalkeeper David James has said that Ederson was ‘fantastic’ against Aston Villa, despite the 1-0 defeat.

City crashed to a loss at Villa Park with Leon Bailey’s second-half goal proving to be the difference.

While there was only a one-goal margin in the end, that certainly does not tell the full story. Villa absolutely dominated City and were superior in all departments.

It was a superb, inventive and industrious performance from Unai Emery’s side, with Pep Guardiola’s XI having no answers.

Key players were missing, but City were just poor and Villa deserved to win the game.

It was a shocking display from the visitors, but David James believes Ederson can at least come out of the game with a little bit of credit…

David James praises Ederson after Manchester City’s horror show against Aston Villa
In the end, Villa had 22 attempts at goal against City, with seven of those efforts being on target.

City had just two attempts, with both coming from Erling Haaland in the first-half.

Most of these efforts on target from Villa came in the first-half, and it was pretty much all thanks to Ederson that the teams went in level at the break.

Speaking at half-time yesterday, before Villa had scored, James said of the Brazilian: “When Eddie’s in this kind of form, it’s not a problem is it? The thing is, this season and last season, people have said he doesn’t make a lot of saves. But you don’t win the Treble without your goalkeeper being one of the best in the world. As you know, I think he’s one of the best in the world. When he was called upon today, he’s pulled big saves (out of the bag).”

Speaking after the game, James added: “The irony of it all is that Ederson has had a fantastic game, and the goal that goes past him is a wicked deflection. I used to hate defenders sticking their leg out like that.

Ederson City’s best player vs Villa
Ederson was easily City’s best performer against Villa.

It was an horrendous team display at Villa Park, but it was thanks to the £35 million Brazilian that City were at least always in with a chance of nicking something, even though that ultimately did not happen.

Villa peppered him, but he stood tall and made some good saves, and then he got very unlucky with the goal from Bailey deflecting off Dias.

James was a bit critical of Dias for sticking his leg out to try and make the block. But you would be very annoyed if your defender just let a player shoot and it sailed into the top corner – Dias had to try.

Hopefully, Ederson can build on this display because overall this season his form has been a bit hit and miss – pundit Jamie Carragher certainly hasn’t been all that impressed.