Aston Villa's quest for their first victory of the Premier League season hit another snag as they were held to a drab goalless draw against Everton.

With only two points from four matches and yet to find the back of the net, Villa finds itself languishing near the bottom of the table, just ahead of their Midlands rivals, Wolves. Head coach Unai Emery faces mounting pressure as questions about the team's performance intensify.

The match featured notable reunions, including Jack Grealish returning to face his childhood club and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez attempting to bounce back after a failed transfer to Manchester United. However, the game itself offered little excitement to the 52,000 fans in attendance at Hill-Dickinson Stadium.

Both teams seemed unable to seize opportunities, with the number of yellow cards (six) outpacing the total shots on target (three). While Everton extended their unbeaten streak to four games, manager David Moyes will likely lament missed chances to elevate his team into the league's top tier against a Villa side that lacked any real attacking threat.

Even the Premier League Player of the Month, Jack Grealish, failed to make an impact as Everton’s offense struggled. The best scoring chance fell to striker Beto, who had been in form previously but floundered in this match, displaying a lack of precision and finesse.

Villa fans could take some comfort from their team's defensive work, notably limiting Grealish’s influence, leading to chants of "You’re not super any more" from the visiting supporters. Still, had Everton possessed a striker with sharper instincts, they could have wrapped up the match long before the final whistle.

The game started off on a chaotic note with Beto misplaying an early opportunity, setting the tone for a frustrating 75 minutes. At one point, the closest Villa came to a goal was Emi Buendia's ambitious attempt from 25 yards, which just grazed past the post.

Everton featured new signing Merlin Rohl, while Villa introduced Harvey Elliott and Victor Lindelöf, but neither player managed to make a significant impact. After witnessing four years pass without a goalless draw at Goodison Park, fans now saw it happen in just three games at the club's new venue, reflecting the heightened expectations.

Despite the grim performance, Villa will be relieved to walk away with a point. However, without a winning strategy, the team must find a way to ignite their season to avoid further disappointment.