---
title: "Gregg Evans backs Gerrard over starting XI against Forest"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2022/10/11/gregg-evans-gerrard-starting-xi-villa-forest-coutinho-buendia/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Thompson"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-10-11T12:05:00Z"
modified: "2026-09-03T11:38:50Z"
---

# Gregg Evans backs Gerrard over starting XI against Forest

[Aston Villa](https://readastonvilla.com/) picked up their third draw in their past four Premier League [matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/spielplan/verein/405/plus/0?saison_id=2022) last night following a 1-1 stalemate against Nottingham Forest.

The Villans went behind through a header from Emmanuel Dennis in the 15th minute before Ashley Young equalised later in the first half with a sweet strike from outside the box.

**Evans backs Gerrard call**

Prior to kick-off, Villa manager Steven Gerrard made [two changes](https://www.skysports.com/football/nottingham-forest-vs-aston-villa/464733#:~:text=Steven%20Gerrard%20made%20two%20changes%20to%20the%20Villa%20team%20that%20drew%20with%20Leeds%20as%20Matty%20Cash%20returned%20from%20injury%20and%20Emiliano%20Buendia%20replaced%20the%20injured%20Leon%20Bailey.) from the starting XI which lined up in the [0-0 draw](https://www.sofascore.com/aston-villa-leeds-united/JsP) against Leeds United, with Matty Cash coming back into the [side](https://www.sofascore.com/football/2022-10-10) and Emi Buendia replacing the [injured](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-news-nottingham-forest-25192873) Leon Bailey.

In a matchday discussion Q&A for [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3675869/2022/10/09/aston-villa-score-nottingham-forest/), journalist Gregg Evans said of Gerrard’s decision to start both Philippe Coutinho and Buendia in attack either side of Ollie Watkins: “Forest left a lot of space in their previous games so I can understand why Coutinho and Buendia started (even if it was by default with Bailey out injured).”

**Buendia justified his selection**

While the Brazilian was taken off after [65](https://www.sofascore.com/football/2022-10-10) minutes, making just one key pass and failing to have a shot on target, Buendia played the full 90 minutes and showed why Gerrard was right to start him and keep him on the pitch.

With two key passes and an overall passing accuracy percentage of [90%](https://www.sofascore.com/football/2022-10-10), the Argentine also showed his defensive ability by making more tackles than any other Villa player (five) and winning 10 of his 16 duels.

The 25-year-old ultimately earned himself a solid match rating of 7.4/10 from [SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/football/2022-10-10), making him the second-highest rated Villa player on the night.

This says to us that, regardless of his reasoning, Gerrard made the right decision to put Buendia in the starting XI on this occasion.

It also makes us feel that the Argentine should keep his place in the team for the time being, and hopefully he can have even more of an impact in an attacking sense in upcoming matches.