(Credit: Imago)

Edward Bazeley

Fri 26 September 2025 16:20, UK

Aston Villa beat Bologna 1-0 in their opening Europa League game, but supporters remain unhappy with their largely poor start to the season.

In their last Premier League game, Villa drew 1-1 with Sunderland, and remain in the top flight’s bottom three.

With just one goal in five league games, Unai Emery’s men have scored fewer than any of their top-tier rivals.

However, Villa did find some respite from their victory over Bologna on Thursday, 25 September, which came thanks to John McGinn’s first-half strike.

Aston Villa fans slammed for booing Morgan Rogers

Football Insider have exclusively revealed that Aston Villa have opened talks with Morgan Rogers over a new contract.

In the summer transfer window, Rogers attracted interest from the Premier League’s ‘big six’, and has subsequently started the new season in poor form.

Some Villa fans chose to boo the attacking midfielder during their side’s win over Bologna, while others cheered ironically when he completed passes, having previously given the ball away.

Speaking live on talkSPORT on Friday, 26 September, Stan Collymore fumed: “What I would say to Villa fans is back off him.

“Morgan Rogers, coming from Middlesbrough, where the standard is undoubtedly lower. He came into an Aston Villa team, picked the ball up on the halfway line, would turn with it, run past people, go past three or four players, and create things and weigh in with goals.

“His ability is nine out of 10. He can go on and be whatever he wants to be as a footballer, both athletically and technically. He’s a very good kid as well, he’s no issue, he’s no bother.

“Like a lot of modern players, he does the work, puts his head down, plays well. Obviously gets young player of the year, and I don’t know if agents have been in his head, and people have said Manchester City are interested, or Liverpool are interested, or Arsenal are interested.

“A lot of Villa fans need to remember that this is a young kid that has come into a team that were doing very well last season, and everyone’s struggling. Ollie Watkins, a senior international misses a penalty, he can’t buy a goal at the minute.

“What I would say to Villa fans is lay off him (Rogers). He needs support, he needs people saying how good he is, he needs Unai Emery.

“Villa fans, back him. If you can’t back him, don’t ironically cheer when he completes a pass. I thought that was disgraceful.”

Morgan Rogers desperately needs to re-ignite his form

While Rogers has recently come under fire, there is no doubt that Aston Villa fans should be pleased by the news that he has opened new contract talks.

Last season, the 23-year-old notched a strong return of 14 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, but the fact that he has failed to produce a goal contribution in seven appearances this term is a worry.

Meanwhile, despite Aston Villa’s win over Bologna, Rogers’ poor form continued against the reigning Coppa Italia champions, as he failed to threaten in the final third.

The England international proved his worth in the September international break by producing an assist for the Three Lions in their 5-0 win over Serbia, but he must now perform at club level once again.

In their next Premier League fixture, Villa face Fulham on Sunday, 28 September, and they need Rogers at his best to overcome the West London outfit.