ASTON VILLA v WATFORD RECAP: Hornets heaps more misery on hapless Villa

Published on: 30 November 2015

Aston Villa have slumped to yet another defeat as their Premier League campaign begins to fall away even further.


Remi Garde's side were beaten 3-2 at home by Watford who inflicted a 11th league loss on the bottom-placed West Midlands outfit.

Orion Ighalo, who now has eight goals this season, opened the scoring in the 17th minute with an opportunistic finish from a deflected Ben Watson attempt before Villa hit back four minutes prior to half-time when captain Micah Richards got on the end of Jordan Veretout's floated free-kick to powerfully head past Heurelho Gomes.

Gomes was stretchered off with just under 25 minutes remaining after he collided with teammate Craig Cathcart but that did not upset Watford's momentum as they went ahead in the 69th minute when Alan Hutton flicked the ball beyond his own keeper Brad Guzan and into the back of the net as he attempted to beat Ighalo to Troy Deeney's through ball.

Quique Sanchez Flores' Hornets then went two goals ahead when Deeney looped a header over Guzan in the 85th minute before Jordan Ayew produced a stellar strike from the edge of the area to reduce the deficit for Villa.


MATCH OVERVIEW

Aston Villa: 2 (Micah Richards 41', Jordan Ayew 89')
Watford: 3 (Odion Ighalo 17', Alan Hutton (OG) 69', Troy Deeney 85')
Villa Park, Birmingham - 35,057


TALKING POINTS

- Can Villa get any luck at all this season? An improved showing on the heavy loss at Everton but still plenty of work to do under Garde if they want to steer clear of the bottom three.

- Watford rolling along nicely under Flores. Will they continue to defy the critics and push towards the top half?


WHAT'S NEXT?

Villa will be desperate to get on the winners list when they head to Southampton next weekend as Watford get set to host fellow top flight returnees Norwich City at Vicarage Road.


TWITTER INSIGHT


QUOTES CORNER

Villa boss Garde on his side's performance:

“We lack efficiency in both boxes and maybe we had lack of patience because we knew it was important to win. It is difficult as obviously we have a lack of confidence both defensively and offensively.

"It is not a criticism but everybody has to improve their levels, and we can."


Watford's Flores on the on-field relationship of Ighalo and Deeney:

"It's amazing the connection they had during the match. They are able to play on the long ball or on the floor. They cope well with whatever way we play.

"It's amazing what they are doing different."


STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta


TEAM LEADERS

Aston Villa
Goals - Rudy Gestede, Jordan Ayew 3
Assists - Jordan Amavi, Gabby Agbonlahor 2
Clean sheets - Brad Guzan 2
Yellow cards - Ciaran Clark 4


Watford
Goals - Odion Ighalo 8
Assists - Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo 4
Clean sheets - Heurelho Gomes 5
Yellow cards - Allan Nyom, Etienne Capoue 4
Red cards - Valon Behrami 1

Source: tribalfootball.com

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more