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This video can not be played Malen double sees Villa beat struggling Burnley At a glance Donyell Malen puts Villa ahead with his first goal of the season Dutchman doubles hosts' advantage with powerful second-half drive Lesley Ugochukwu nets late consolation for Burnley PLAYER RATINGS Donyell Malen scored twice as improving Aston Villa stretched their winning run to four matches in all competitions with victory over struggling Burnley. Having created several early opportunities to take the lead at Villa Park, Unai Emery's side eventually got their noses in front when Boubacar Kamara's defence-splitting pass released Malen, who found the bottom corner. It was the Dutchman's first goal of the season, having last netted at Southampton in April. Returning Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who pulled out of Thursday's 2-0 Europa League win over Feyenoord with a calf problem, produced a marvellous one-handed save to tip Josh Cullen's low shot away as Burnley sought a reply. Villa remained on top, though, and felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Morgan Rogers went to ground under the challenge of Axel Tuanzebe, but referee Andrew Kitchen waved away protests for a pull on the England midfielder. The second half was a more subdued affair, but the hosts deservedly doubled their advantage in the 63rd-minute when Malen - who was about to be taken off - slammed Rogers' pass into the far corner for his second of the afternoon. Lesley Ugochukwu nodded home his first Burnley goal to reduce the arrears with 12 minutes left, but Emery's men held on to clinch back-to-back league successes after their winless start to the campaign. Villa are in 13th spot, while Scott Parker's side are third from bottom after a fifth game without a league victory. Have your say on Aston Villa’s performance What did you make of Burnley’s display? Donyell Malen's scored from two of his five touches in the Burnley penalty area Villa boss Emery cut a disconsolate figure after watching his team labour to a 1-1 draw at newly promoted Sunderland on 21 September, even describing aspects of his team's performance at the Stadium of Light as "lazy". Fast forward two weeks, however, and last season's Champions League quarter-finalists appear to be rediscovering their groove, although there is still ample room for improvement. While the early stages of Sunday's game were not exactly one-sided, the hosts created by far the better chances and could have taken the lead before Malen's 25th-minute effort. Ollie Watkins should have turned home Malen's flick inside the six-yard box, while Ezri Konsa had a free header parried behind by Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Rogers, who looked much sharper than in recent weeks, also had a curling effort deflected wide by veteran full-back Kyle Walker, before Malen settled Villa nerves midway through the half with a fine finish. The former Borussia Dortmund man has struggled in front of goal since netting in three successive league games back in April, but the double will do his and Villa's confidence no end of good as Emery's side look to put their early season woes behind them. "His performance was very good, " Emery told BBC Match of the Day when asked about the 26-year-old's display. "For him, it is very important to get confident and be a protagonist. He was comfortable in the structure and closer to Ollie Watkins. "He took this challenge to play in the starting 11. We will continue working to try to identify his best position. " The game ended on a sour note for Villa as Emi Buendia was forced off with a head injury after being caught by Zian Flemming, but Emery confirmed the problem is not as serious as first feared. "I saw him after the match and he is getting better, " he added. This video can not be played Confidence is important for 'protaganist' Malen - Emery Clarets fans can be forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu as they flocked out of Villa Park. Parker's team, who have competed well during games against Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City this season, found themselves in some excellent attacking positions in the first half in particular. Hartman was denied by Martinez in a one v one situation, but was deemed to be offside from Walker's pass, while Cullen was thwarted by an excellent stop from the Villa keeper. But the visitors were carved open far too easily for the opening goal, with Kamara given time and space to thread a lovely pass in behind Burnley's back five for Malen to run on to. "There is a theme at the moment, " Parker told BBC Match of the Day. "We were hugely competitive, but switched off in certain moments. "There are things that I really like from the first seven games, but there are little things that we need to fix up on a little bit. " After Ugochukwu had halved the deficit, striker Armando Broja failed to make proper contact with a stoppage-time effort, but was offside anyway. It meant Burnley are still pointless in four away games since their top-flight return and have crucial games against Leeds and Wolves - who are two points below them in bottom spot - to follow after the international break. This video can not be played Burnley switching off 'a theme at the moment' - Parker Aston Villa: Villa travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, 19 October (14: 00 BST), before a Europa League tie at Go Ahead Eagles four days later (17: 45 BST). Burnley: The Clarets welcome Leeds to Turf Moor on Saturday, 18 October (15: 00), before a visit to Wolves on Sunday, 26 October (14: 00 BST). After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 5th October 2025 at 18: 24 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Unai Emery Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Scott Parker Formation: 5 - 4 - 1 Manager: Unai Emery Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Scott Parker Formation: 5 - 4 - 1 Premier League All competitions All competitions All competitions Aston Villa have won both of their last two Premier League games against Burnley but haven’t won more successive league meetings with the Clarets since March 1900 (5). Burnley’s last league visit to Aston Villa saw them lose 3-2 in December 2023; they last lost successive away league matches at Villa in April 1966 (4 in a row). Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League matches against newly promoted sides (W12 D4) since losing 3-0 to Fulham in October 2022. They did lose against Scott Parker the last time he faced Villa however, a 2-0 defeat to promoted Bournemouth in August 2022. Burnley have picked up just four points in their first six Premier League games this season (W1 D1 L4) and they are yet to win a single point away from home (L3). The Clarets have lost their last four away Premier League games, last losing more consecutively between November 2016 and February 2017 (seven). Since the start of last September, only three teams have picked up more home Premier League points than Aston Villa (44 – W12 D8 L1) and no ever present side has lost fewer home games in that time (1, level with Liverpool). Burnley have already conceded 13 Premier League goals this season, only three fewer than they conceded in 46 Championship matches in 2024-25 (16). In Football League history, the earliest into a season a team has conceded as many goals as they had the previous season is seven games by Liverpool in 1894-95 (conceded 18). Among managers to take charge of 50+ Premier League matches, only Daniel Farke (0. 62) has a lower points per game ratio than Burnley’s Scott Parker (0. 76). By comparison, Parker has the best points per game ratio in Championship history (2004-05 onwards) among managers with 100+ games (1. 95). Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony has been involved in five goals in six Premier League games this season (4 goals, 1 assist), more than in his first 33 games in the competition in 2022-23 and 2023-24 (3 goals, 1 assist). Only Aleksandar Mitrovic in 2022-23 for Fulham (5) has scored in more of a newly promoted team’s first six games of a season than Anthony’s four in 2025-26. Among players to attempt 50+ passes while under high-intensity pressure from an opponent, Aston Villa’s Lamare Bogarde has the best completion rate, completing 52 of his 56 passes (92. 9%). Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has the most open play assists in the Premier League in 2025 (8). Only three Villa players have more in a calendar year – James Milner in 2009 (12), Ashley Young in 2010 (9) and Ollie Watkins in 2023 (10). Attempt blocked. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Donyell Malen. Offside, Burnley. Quilindschy Hartman is caught offside. Attempt missed. Donyell Malen (Aston Villa) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Lucas Digne with a cross following a corner. Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Kyle Walker. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley). Lamare Bogarde (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jaidon Anthony (Burnley). Offside, Aston Villa. Lucas Digne is caught offside. Offside, Burnley. Lyle Foster is caught offside. Offside, Burnley. Loum Tchaouna is caught offside. Foul by Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa). Josh Cullen (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half. First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.