Aston Villa

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Leeds United and Aston Villa.

Here are some of your comments:

Leeds fans

Luke: Started the game well with a high tempo and looked good for a while, but we just can't seem to see the games out and lose from a winning start.

David: As usual, Farke waits until we go a goal down before making his same substitutions - like he does every single game. Villa saw what was wrong at half-time and brought on subs, which changed the game. Farke just can't or won't do that. Time for a change.

Ewan: Abysmal. Destined for relegation again. The Yorkshire yo-yo team. Too much to try to dissect, but ultimately, the recruitment has been poor, and we're not operating at a level to be competitive in the top flight. Big January window ahead to give ourselves any chance of survival. Farke out.

Paul: Sadly, Leeds are tactically naive and lacking the firepower to survive - Elland Road is no longer a fortress, so unless there are changes, it will be a short-lived visit to the Premier League.

Villa fans

Rich: Watkins was poor again. Malen shows he is a viable alternative, but isn't being given enough chances. Rogers scored good goals, but half asleep giving the free-kick away for the Leeds goal. I'm really not sure how we are fourth in the table.

Jamie: A very good three points after crawling back from being a goal behind. Our fans will remember the times when conceding the first goal always resulted in a loss. But Emery has instilled confidence and calmness into the squad that makes that a thing of the past. Malen changed the game, and Rogers was superb.

Brian: Tale of two halves Rogers finally showed his class, but subs at half-time made a big difference.

Richard: Playing Leeds away is always a tough game. Their home record speaks for itself. Villa stuck to their task, and after a couple of tactical changes at half-time, Villa never looked back. So glad Rodgers signed a new deal. Pure class.

Pundits Danny Murphy and Joe Hart and join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa

• Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to BBC Match of the Day: "Leeds United, eh? First half, we struggled; they deserved the first half. We weren't dominating and competing like we did in the second half. Leeds were playing fantastically. Second half, we changed some things. They tired in the second half, and we dominated the ball more. We scored quick and that helped us a lot.

"It was key to equalise the match, and then it continued. We had chances to get the second goal, and we did. Then they had some chances. We are happy because this match was a challenge. I am so, so happy for the players.

"We are trying to set as high a standard as possible. My players were fantastic.

"Every team in the Premier League has great players and coaches. We must be consistent. We must be strong. Tactically, it is very important, and individually we have to show our quality."

On Morgan Rogers: "He was playing fantastic. Today, scoring his goal was brilliant. I try to get of him his qualities and make him feel comfortable in our structures. On the left, in the middle and as a striker. He is so, so competitive player. Always he accepts everything we are trying to do with him."

• Hear more from Emery on BBC Sounds

Midfielder Morgan Rogers speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "It's a difficult place to come. They're really strong at home. They played really well, with a high intensity. We had to dig in, we had to dig deep. Luckily, we managed to find two goals in the second half to win the game, which is the most important thing."

"Of course, we want to play better with pretty football, but you can't always do that in the Premier League. Different teams pose different problems. We were really good with grit and determination, and we got the win."

On Villa's second-half improvement: "We played a lot quicker with more intensity and tried to hurt them more. In the first half, we didn't really cause that many problems, but in the second half, we definitely did. We played a lot quicker and a lot more forward.

"That definitely helps, but normally it's about our heart and our spirit to win. Competing in battles, competing in duels, keep running, keep working. It was a difficult win; they pushed us right to the limit."

On his goals: "I'm really happy. There have been a few goals I haven't quite got in other games so it was nice to get on the score sheet. But if I don't score, it's okay as long as we get the win.

"The manager's always banging on at me to get into the box. That's where the goals are scored. Sometimes I'm hesitant to go in. I went in and just kind of reacted to the ball. I'm lucky I could get a toe on it. I was really happy with that one.

"Straight out of halftime, we had the energy. The crowd was up, and everything was going well. It was a good time to score."

• Hear more from Rogers on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Aston Villa have won each of their last six league games that have been played on a Sunday, one more than across their prior 21 combined (D7 L9), whilst it's also their longest winning run on this day in club history.

• Since his Premier League debut in February 2024, only Cole Palmer (44) and Bukayo Saka (28) have been involved in more goals in the competition aged 23 and under than Aston Villa's Mogan Rogers (27 - 14 goals, 13 assists), with today the first time he's scored more than once in a top-flight game.

Emma Smith at Elland Road
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Not since former England manager Gareth Southgate in January 2000 has an Aston Villa player scored a Premier League brace at Elland Road.

Now it is the turn of a current England star, as Morgan Rogers provided the spark for Villa to come from behind at Leeds.

Goals aside, Rogers was the outstanding attacking player for Villa here. His movement and direct running provided more threat than the below-par Emi Buendia and Ollie Watkins.

And it will provide a reminder to current England boss Thomas Tuchel as to his abilities ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Since his Premier League debut in February 2024, only Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka have been involved in more goals in the competition while aged 23 and under than Rogers.

And this was the first time he has scored more than once in a top flight game - a reminder of his strength among the English number 10 candidates.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Leeds United's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Leeds manager Daniel Farke makes just one change from the starting XI in the 3-1 loss at Nottingham Forest before the international break.

Centre-back Jaka Bijol drops to the bench, with Pascal Struijk partnering Joe Rodon at the back.

Leeds starting XI: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Ampadu; Aaronson, Longstaff, Stach Okafor; Nmecha

Subs: Darlow, James, Calvert-Lewin, Piroe, Bijol, Tanaka, Justin, Gnonto, Gruev

There is also one change to the Villa team, with Youri Tielemans replacing the injured Amadou Onana in midfield.

Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash both passed fitness tests, while Morgan Rogers has recovered from a "hamstring niggle" picked up on England duty.

Aston Villa starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins

Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Barkley, Malen, Sancho, Maatsen, Bogarde, Guessand, Hemmings

There are two games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Leeds United v Aston Villa (14:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction from Elland Road here

Keep across everything from Emirates Stadium over here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Leeds v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Tottenham".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Leeds have been strong at home for a long time now, and they have picked up eight of their 11 points so far at Elland Road.

But this still feels like a massive game for them, because although they have made a reasonable start to the season, there are still some Leeds fans who are not sure about manager Daniel Farke.

If they lose at home to Aston Villa, albeit an in-form and improving Villa, then it could start to turn ugly for Farke if they fall into the relegation places.

So Farke needs something here and it won't be easy because Villa have the quality to hurt them, and they have got a bit of momentum too.

Unai Emery's side have won eight of their past 10 matches in all competitions, and one of the games they lost was against Liverpool when they actually deserved something from it.

I don't think Villa will lose this, and a draw would be a good result for Leeds.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

In-form Aston Villa take on a Leeds side who have lost four of their past five games. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Sunday's match.

Leeds return to Elland Road after back-to-back losses at Brighton and Nottingham Forest, having conceded three goals in each defeat. Under-pressure boss Daniel Farke told BBC Radio 5 Live this week that it has probably been his side's "poorest period of the season" , adding the Whites "have to show a bit of a reaction".

But the German manager also asked fans to see the bigger picture, telling Sky Sports "after we beat West Ham, people said survival was confirmed and now everyone is panicking about relegation".

This is the first game in a testing run of fixtures for Farke's team, with next weekend's trip to Manchester City followed by home matches against Chelsea and Liverpool.

Leeds have struggled away from home this term, claiming their only points in a 3-1 win at bottom side Wolves, but have lost just once at Elland Road.

However, goalscoring remains a major concern. Their tally of 10 goals is the joint-second lowest in the Premier League after 11 games, with poor finishing regularly letting them down.

They have converted just five of 22 'big chances', as classified by Opta, equivalent to 22.7%. The only Premier League side with a worse record this season are opponents Aston Villa.

Is Villa's resurgence sustainable?

Aston Villa failed to win any of their opening five league fixtures but have five victories in their subsequent six games, including a 4-0 triumph against Bournemouth last time out.

Manager Unai Emery hailed that performance as "really fantastic", praising his side's commitment, energy and connection with the home supporters.

A key feature of Villa's improvement has been goals from distance. Three of the goals against the Cherries came from outside the penalty area, taking their overall total to seven, the highest total in the Premier League.

The Villans also boast the league's highest shot conversion rate from outside the box (15.6%), a stark contrast to their figure of 8.1% for efforts inside the area, which is the lowest in the top flight.

While Villa's long-range purple patch has fuelled their revival, if it is to be sustainable they will need to create higher-quality chances closer to goal. Emery's side have managed 20 shots on target from inside the box this term, fewer than any other side.

That includes only four from Ollie Watkins, who scored 16 league goals last season but has netted just once so far.

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League will from next season move to a new system of Financial Fair Play (FFP) based on squad costs.

The clubs met in London on Friday to vote on three possible methods of replacing Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) got 14 votes in favour and six against, which is the minimum number that is required to exact a rule change.

Overall squad costs from next season will have to be limited to 85% of a club's revenue, although teams competing in Europe will have to adhere to Uefa's maximum of 70%.

Squad costs comprise player and manager wages, transfer fees and agents' fees.

Rules around sustainability, which set out a club's financial spending plans over the medium and long term, were passed unanimously.

Read more about the news and what it means here

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League has announced the start and end dates for the 2026-27 season.

The first round of fixtures will take place across the weekend of 22 August 2026 - a week later than previous seasons.

The later start allows rest time for players - 89 clear days from the end of this season, and 33 days from the 2026 World Cup final.

The Premier League said the delay was a "priority" for player welfare in an "increasingly congested global football calendar".

The final matches of the season will be played on Sunday, 30 May 2027, with all fixtures kicking off simultaneously as usual.

The season will end a week before the 2027 Champions League final, which will be on Saturday, 5 June.

There will be 33 weekend and five midweek fixtures - the same as the current season.

For the festive period, the Premier League have said no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours.

It has not been confirmed if there will be any fixtures on 24 December 2026.

However, as Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, the Premier League has said there will be more matches scheduled than this season, when there is only one.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Leeds United at Elland Road (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news: "The only player for Sunday to rule out is Tyrone Mings. Other players will train tomorrow, the last training session, and normally could be available. They [Ezri Kona, Matty Cash, and Amadou Onana] are training. Amadou is progressing well, and tomorrow we'll see how he's progressing."

• Emery also took a moment to acknowledge the international achievements within his squad, singling out John McGinn after the midfielder achieved World Cup qualification with Scotland. The Spaniard highlighted how "important it is for him and them", adding that he is "delighted" with how the international break unfolded for his players overall.

• On Ollie Watkins' injury: "We are trying to get him to normal every day, with training, sometimes resting. Especially when an individual player has this small problem - and of course, he's sometimes not feeling 100% fit to play - [it is important] to try to work intelligently... progressively trying to get him comfortable and with confidence to play, not feeling some pain, in good form and scoring goals."

• Emery was also asked about the prospect of experiencing a derby against Birmingham City, in the context of the revealed plans for a new 62,000-capacity stadium in the city, but he was keen to steer the discussion back to the immediate priorities of his team. He reiterated his focus on "trying to build" towards Villa's long-term objectives and internal progress rather than events involving their neighbours.

• On the trip to Leeds United: "We know it. How we are performing away is not in the balance, it is not in our balance. Of course, how we are competing and progressing has been really fantastic, but it's not enough. And away is our challenge because in the five matches we played away we have only won against Tottenham."

Hear more from Emery on BBC Sounds

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Leeds v Aston Villa at 14:00 on Sunday on BBC Sounds

English attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa, is the subject of interest from Bundesliga and Serie A clubs, with parent club Liverpool willing to sell the 22-year-old at a reduced price. (Football Insider, external)

Inter Milan are interested in signing Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, with Aston Villa ready to listen to offers for the 33-year-old. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

One of potentially the biggest moments in English football is coming on Friday, but precious few people understand how important it could be or even know about it.

The Premier League is considering 'anchoring' wages, which would cap the amount any club could spend on their squad at five times the smallest central Premier League broadcasting and prize money payout.

It is a complex argument. The league and some clubs are considering it because they want to ensure wage inflation does not continue to rise endangering their long-term financial security. From the other side - the players and their union, the PFA - this unnaturally limits the amount they can earn in what has until now been a free and open market.

Any changes to that position foisted upon the players without their prior consultation and agreement will not go down well. Remember, the players are the people that the paying public, the TV companies and the advertisers want to see, not a bunch of chairmen, executives and directors arguing over accounts, dividends and profit margins.

The game has increased the number of games played per season without consulting those who are physically doing it. No studies on how that will affect their health in the short and long term were considered, and so the PFA in England looks like it is finally ready to take a strong stand for its members.

Strike ballots are not unknown, I should know, as chairman of the PFA my name was on the bottom of every ballot paper when we last considered strike action over changes in working conditions. The modern owners may have forgotten, but we had 99% backing from our members.

Owners may think of footballers as ultra wealthy, mercenary, thickos who can easily be controlled - well they thought that last time and they lost.

It is time for serious and meaningful negotiation between equals and not a master and serf attitude from one side towards the other.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As Aston Villa's internationals fly home, John McGinn must feel like he could float back by himself after Tuesday night.

It will not be long until Villa fans will no longer have to find other interests to fill their time though, with the team ready to play two games per week almost all the way up until March.

It is hard to imagine that Unai Emery used much of the break to binge-watch box-sets he had fallen behind on, even if concerns over Aston Villa's form had eased somewhat by the time they thrashed Bournemouth.

Emery and his staff will no doubt have analysed recent games very deeply, but I wonder if they have come to the same conclusions as The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell and Anantaajith Reghuraman earlier this week.

Their detailed survey, external of the data started from the premise that while winning games with a run of spectacular long-distance goals is good for the soul, it might mask a worrying lack of overall productivity.

They have a fair, if rather unromantic, point.

In the long run, the number of goals counts for more than style marks, although they also importantly note that while Aston Villa have found goals harder to score, they have become much tougher to score against.

Is this really just a long way of saying the season ultimately rests on whether Ollie Watkins starts scoring again or not?

"In Emery's mind, Watkins' downturn was a by-product of defects in structure and his team's build-up play," they wrote. "As opposed to him dropping off." So creating chances for him more often might be all he needs.

The analysis is fascinating, but ultimately there is only one way to find out.

Meanwhile, the cultural reference you didn't know you needed came from the Claret and Blue podcast's Mat Kendrick on Tuesday's Radio WM Football Phone-In, as he identified Emi Buendia as Villa's player of the season to date.

"Do you remember Scrappy-Doo, Scooby's sidekick?" Kendrick said. "Emi is like him - he has got a personality and bravery and energy that belies his small stature.

"The way he has come from nowhere to say: 'Forget Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott - I'm going to own this attacking space in Villa's team', I think is a credit to him."

Matt Jarvis - a team-mate of Buendia's at Norwich City - chimed in with his agreement: "That is exactly what he's like. He gets pushed, kicked, everything and he gives it back.

"He doesn't complain as he loves that side of the game. He is a top player and his attitude is spot on as well."

So, all aboard the Mystery Machine to Elland Road.

Listen to full commentary of Leeds United v Aston Villa at 14:00 GMT on Sunday on BBC Radio WM

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Aston Villa content on BBC Sounds

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off earlier than usual this year, with up to 17 Premier League clubs set to be affected by players jetting off to host country Morocco.

The tournament runs from 21 December until 18 January.

There has been no official announcement about which date clubs will have to release their players by - and it could vary depending on agreements.

Players could miss up to six, or in some cases seven, Premier League matches - plus FA Cup and Carabao Cup games - if they reach the final.

The group stages end on 31 December, so quickly eliminated players may only miss half that amount.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds do not have any players due to play in the 2025 Afcon - with Sunderland and Wolves losing the most players.

• Aston Villa - 1

• Bournemouth - 1

• Brentford - 2

• Brighton - 1

• Burnley - 3

• Crystal Palace - 1 to 4

• Everton - 2 to 3

• Fulham - 3

• Liverpool - 1

• Manchester City - 2

• Manchester United - 3

• Newcastle United - 0 to 1

• Nottingham Forest - 1 to 4

• Sunderland - 7

• Tottenham - 1 to 2

• West Ham United - 2

• Wolves - 5

Read the full article here to know which players will feature at Afcon

David Michael
Fan writer

Which player is flying?: Matty Cash. The one player that is playing above and beyond most fan's expectations for him this season. He's had some big moments in terms of goals and killer passes, along with tightening up the defensive side of his game.

Which player has disappointed and why?: Ollie Watkins. While he is a serial grafter and a big part of the team, as the only out-and-out striker in the squad, he will understandably be judged by his goal contributions. One goal and zero assists in the first 11 games is poor.

Tactically I think... Unai Emery has certainly tightened up as a team defensively. Initially it was compromising Villa's attacking intent, but in recent weeks, the team have got the balance right and are mixing it up more going forward.

I want my manager to give... the team a bit more room for expression. Unai Emery knows best, but in the pursuit of honing the details of positional football, sometimes players are curbed of their instinct and expression (that entertains supporters). That said, according to Opta, Villa became the first team to score five successive Premier League goals from outside the box since Tottenham in 2011. A sign of player rebellion or of leeway granted within Emery's quest for control?

Our fans seem obsessed with... the narrative that PSR is holding the team back, but they should be concerning themselves with what happens when Villa actually have spent money in recent windows.The latest summer transfer window was underwhelming to say the least. Probably Marco Bizot, Villa's back-up keeper, has been the only success. Was the reported £30m+ spend on Evann Guessand a wise move? And currently, the jury is very much out on the high-profile loan moves for Harvey Elliot and Jadon Sancho.

My expectations for the season... was European qualification, with the Europa League perhaps the best shot at upgrading to Champions League football again. While it still remains the best chance of silverware, the inconsistency of other top Premier League teams opens up a realistic chance of Villa fulfilling the objective in the league by finishing top five.

Score for the season so far: 7/10

One sentence on how you're feeling right now: I feel like the season is about to start for real and Villa's starting grid position is pretty good, considering their early subpar qualifying laps.

Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external

Over the past week, we have been asking you to send in the best Premier League XI your club could have put together.

We know football existed before 1992 but as a Leeds United fan asked our experts on the club to name theirs - using the Ask Me Anything form on the Whites - we stuck with their parameters.

Here's the effort of BBC Sport's Aston Villa fan writer David Michael, who only chose players with a minimum 100 Premier League matches in order to not be swayed by loan deals or short-term hits.

And you can ask us about Villa using their Ask Me Anything form at the top of this page or here

Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external

We have, roughly, run the numbers and here is the XI your submissions have produced.

Plenty of competition in defence for Aston Villa fans and that is why we've shunted Ezri Konsa out to right-back. In the centre, Olof Mellbery just edges out stalwart partner Martin Laursen.

In midfield, Jack Grealish makes most teams and will definitely have a more roaming brief than out wide.

Up front, Ollie Watkins' recent lack of goals does not stop him from joining Dwight Yorke to form a potent strikeforce.

Put Unai Emery or Martin O'Neill as boss and this team would likely be in the mix for the title.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The statistics might say playing at home is an advantage - but what happens when it is not?

So far this season, 53% of Premier League matches have been won by the home team - the highest ever rate in a single campaign.

On the flip side, just 26% have been won by the away team - the lowest rate since 2010-11.

However, this has not been the case for all teams.

For some, being on the road has been more favourable. Tottenham are perhaps the most contrasting example having the joint-most points away from home with 13, but the second-worst in front of their own fans with just five points.

In the second part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "With crowds when playing away from home, there is a reduced scrutiny as a whole for away teams in that those crowds expect the home team to be the ones in charge. The players feel less judged. The pressure is on the other side.

"Another reason could come down to something in psychology I like to call simplification of the task. The team has a better collective identity when they are away.

"The human brain still goes back to the cavemen days. We have to, as a collective, fight for something. We have to protect our name. It goes back to that hunter-gatherer-against-danger mentality.

"When players are in front of a home crowd, there can be a bit of playing up to the individuality.

"I really do believe that collective identity has a strong enough influence because it amplifies the purpose and the belonging - let's belong together, let's be stronger together."

The focus might be on the players' performances being impacted by being home or away, but what about the managers?

Wolves, West Ham and Nottingham Forest make up three of the bottom four for their home records so far this term, and all have changed their manager in recent weeks.

"100% managers and coaches can be affected, and sometimes even more so because there is so much riding on that one person," Cartwright said.

"The decision-making is the main thing. The crowd is chanting - 'take this player off, do this' - and it can lead to rushed decisions, particularly when the noise becomes relentless.

"Then there is the emotional regulation and touchline behaviour. A manager is pacing up and down, mirroring the stress state, and players see that. It can lead to mimicking and players feeling that stress too."

The impact on teams psychologically playing home or away is apparent, so how can they make the most from these different conditions?

"Our brains are wired to think negatively - it's a protection mechanism," Cartwright said.

"So when it comes to performing home and away, those players and managers who deal with it best are those who know how to use the noise and scrutiny and move on quickly from it - an ability to have a reset routine and regulate their emotions in these pressurised situations."

Read more from Marie in part one of her chat around the impact of playing at home here

Real Madrid are considering offers in the region of 20m euros (£17.69m) - from Sunderland, Aston Villa and Wolves for 21-year-old Spanish forward Gonzalo Garcia. (Fichajes), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

"Home advantage gives you an advantage."

It is a quote - among many - attributed to the famous former England manager Sir Bobby Robson - a simple, yet fair reflection of a historical format of football.

For as long as teams have played in leagues, games taking place home and away has been the norm, with the idea that playing at home will be to the benefit of that team.

But what is the impact of playing at your own ground in front of your own fans?

In the first part of her chat with BBC Sport, performance psychologist Marie Cartwright explained: "Home impact can be viewed in two ways. Sometimes it does have a positive impact, and what happens is there is an elevated motivation.

"What that means is the crowd energy increases adrenaline and that creates a momentum in effort and intensity in the players. It is also a familiar environment for the players, so that means it reduces the cognitive load. They don't have to think as much about anything else other than their play because they know the pitch, they know the routines, they feel settled.

"However, there are a couple of potential negative impacts as well, with the potential intensification in pressure in the home fans, most times, expecting dominance from the home team. That can lead to mistakes from players feeling bigger to them.

"There can then be what we call a threat state. The players might perceive consequences as high, so they feel they might be facing more criticism when they are at home."

While those who watch football know there are more factors than just where the match is being to take into consideration, the statistics do suggest the influence is there.

Since the Premier League started, the home win percentage has outweighed the away win percentage in all bar one season - the Covid-hit 2020-21 campaign in which fans were largely not allowed admission saw a 38% home win rate compared to 40% away win rate.

So how a team handles this additional crowd pressure seems to be a key factor.

"In psychology, there is something called the challenge and threat theory," Cartwright said.

"In reality what that means is a 'challenge state' can push the player into thinking, 'I've got this, I've got the resources to cope with this'. That leads to better decision making and quicker reactions.

"The threat state, on the other hand, players might think the consequences outweigh their ability to cope. In any match context, that can mean they have a narrow sense of focus, the focus is not quite the same, so the play becomes slower because of overthinking."

"It can also be called 'red brain or blue brain' - with red brain being the one with fear-based dialogue and internal negative self-talk, while blue brain is the cool, calm and collected one that can handle its emotions.

"What sits in the middle of these is distraction. How a player responds to distraction and filters out the noise, like the crowd, can impact which of these mindsets they move into and ultimately how the team performs."

Read more from Marie in part two of her chat about why teams some teams play better away from home and how it impacts managers - that will be on this page early next week.