Alan Shearer has criticised João Gomes and Matty Cash for their defensive roles in Aston Villa’s 2-2 draw against Brentford, describing the Brazilian midfielder’s contribution to the hosts’ equaliser as “weak”.
Villa looked set to claim all three points on Saturday after John McGinn restored their lead in the second half. However, Kristoffer Ajer struck just two minutes later, punishing defensive lapses that left Unai Emery’s side frustrated.
Speaking on the BBC’s Match of the Day, Shearer analysed the build-up to Brentford’s second goal and highlighted the positioning of Cash and Gomes.
Shearer questions João Gomes’ defensive contribution
Shearer’s criticism centred on the sequence that allowed Ajer to equalise shortly after McGinn had put Villa 2-1 ahead.
The former England striker pointed to Cash becoming distracted by the ball as Ajer played a pass and continued his run. He then questioned the support Gomes provided to his team-mate during the move.
“Matty Cash gets distracted looking at the ball. Ajer plays a pass and runs, (João) Gomes certainly doesn’t help Cash at all,” Shearer said.
He added: “That’s really weak. That’s exactly what John McGinn was talking about.”
The comments reflected McGinn’s frustration after Villa surrendered their advantage so quickly. A win would have represented another positive step for Emery’s team, but the failure to prevent Brentford’s equaliser proved costly.
The statistics offer a more balanced picture
Although Shearer focused on the decisive defensive moment, the underlying numbers suggest that neither Cash nor Gomes had a poor defensive performance throughout the match.
According to statistics published by FotMob, Cash won five tackles, won seven of his 11 ground duels, made three recoveries, produced two blocks and recorded two clearances.
Gomes, meanwhile, won four ground duels and one aerial duel. The Brazilian also registered a tackle, a clearance and a ball recovery.
His contribution in possession was another positive aspect of the performance. Gomes completed 12 passes that broke defensive lines and played seven passes into the final third.
Cash also contributed going forward, completing 92 per cent of his passes and delivering seven passes into the final third.
The figures suggest that the criticism relates primarily to a crucial moment rather than an entirely poor performance from either player.
Defensive mistakes continue to cost Aston Villa
Villa’s two goals conceded against Brentford took their total to 11 in six Premier League matches this season, according to the report.
That works out at an average of approximately 1.8 goals conceded per game, highlighting an area Emery’s side will need to address if they are to achieve their ambitions this season.
The draw was particularly frustrating because Villa had twice been in a position to take control of the contest. Nicolas Jackson cancelled out Brentford’s early opener before McGinn appeared to have secured the advantage in the second half.
Instead, Ajer’s late equaliser ensured the points were shared.
Shearer’s assessment underlines how small lapses in concentration can have a significant impact at Premier League level. Even when the wider statistics are encouraging, failing to track a runner or provide defensive support at the decisive moment can change the outcome of a match.
The Aston Villa News BR verdict
Shearer’s criticism will be uncomfortable for João Gomes and Matty Cash, particularly because it focused on a goal conceded so soon after Villa had regained the lead.
However, the broader statistics offer some context. Gomes contributed with progressive passing, while Cash recorded a strong passing accuracy and several defensive actions.
The key issue is consistency in decisive moments. Villa cannot afford to let opponents exploit brief lapses in concentration if they want to turn competitive performances into victories. Emery will be looking for a more reliable defensive response in the matches ahead.
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