Villa fans alarmed by Emery's antics after he breaks manager etiquette

ASTON VILLA boss Unai Emery left fans concerned after marching down the tunnel before the end of his side's draw with Sunderland.

The Villans are still winless in their first five games of the season after ten-man Sunderland came from behind to rescue a draw .

3 Unai Emery surprised Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris by shaking his hand before the final whistle Credit: AFP

3 Emery went down the tunnel before the end of Aston Villa's draw against Sunderland

3 Villa continued their winless run this season after squandering a precious lead

Matty Cash had put struggling Villa into the lead in the second half - their first goal of the Prem season - before Wilson Isidor grabbed the equaliser.

Villa weren't able to capitalise on Sunderland losing Reinaldo to a red card in the first half.

Emery looked dejected as the game drew to a close and he approached opposite number Regis Le Bris for a handshake.

But he did so before the final whistle at the Stadium of Light, breaking manager etiquette in the process.

The Spaniard then headed straight down the tunnel as Villa continued their worrying start to the campaign.

Some supporters were worried about their manager's antics as one admitted it was ominous.

The fan wrote on X: "Emery going down the tunnel before the whistle isn’t the best sign either is it.

Another said: "Emery walking down the tunnel before the game was over... it's not looking good for us at the moment."

A third added: "No clapping the fans, this could actually be the beginning of the end."

However, Emery has since defended his actions as he claimed it was "clear" the match was about to end.

He said after the game: “The last minute, there was 30 seconds and their goalkeeper was with the ball. He was usually using one minute to start the game. It was clear that the match was finishing.”

Villa now have two defeats and three draws from their first five opening games, scoring just once.

And Emery conceded he was struggling to get a tune out of his players.

He added: “We are not playing like I want.

"Of course we have to adapt some players. We will need time with them, but the other players know how we want to control the game with the ball, more than without the ball.

“We were conceding a lot of chances. Chances starting with their goalkeeper, long ball, second action, throw-in, corner, in our box and of course we are conceding chances.

“It was starting with the goalkeepers. And why?

"Because we were not dominating control of the game with one player more, doing passes, making passes and taking the right moment to attack them. We were not doing it.

“We were lazy sometimes in defence really. Lazy. For example when we concede, we were lazy.

“Maybe it is the consequences, we are not feeling dominating, we are not feeling playing our style.”