How Aston Villa broke their Premier League scoring duck against Fulham

The secret has long been out – Aston Villa have had a less-than-ideal start to the 2025/26 Premier League season. Before their game against Fulham at the weekend, Unai Emery’s men had failed to score a single goal in the league.

This, however, changed when they took on the Cottagers. They created chances and took them well, with excellent displays from John McGinn and Lucas Digne helping them on their way to three much-needed points.

But how did Unai Emery and the Villa squad do it? What changes were made to allow them to open the floodgates? Let’s take a look.

Changes to the Aston Villa system

Perhaps the most notable change to Villa’s system was Emery’s decision to play his personnel in their natural positions – there were no square pegs in round holes this time.

Morgan Rogers had spent time in the number ten role this season to minimal success. Against Fulham, he was deployed as a winger, the position where he thrives the most. It paid off – he picked up his first goal contribution of the season when he assist Emi Buendia for the Villans’ third goal of the game.

Additionally, McGinn had been shunted out wide earlier in the season, despite being a central midfielder normally He looked much more comfortable in the heart of midfield, putting in a man of the match performance and capping off his display with an excellent goal in the second half.