Southampton remain bottom after Villa defeat

Published on: 21 January 2023

Ollie Watkins' fifth goal of the season in all competitions proved decisive at St Mary's

Southampton remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League after Ollie Watkins' second-half header earned Aston Villa a narrow win at St Mary's.

Watkins nodded Douglas Luiz's inswinging free-kick into the bottom corner with 13 minutes remaining as Villa claimed their fifth victory in seven league games under new manager Unai Emery.

The visitors dominated possession but were fortunate not to fall behind midway through the first half when Che Adams' close-range effort was ruled out for offside.

Saints had the ball in the Villa net again shortly after the hour mark, but James Ward-Prowse's deflected strike was chalked off following Mohamed Elyounoussi's foul on Jacob Ramsey in the build-up.

Watkins' fifth goal of the season ultimately proved decisive, as Saints' three-game winning run in all competitions came to an abrupt end.

The game at St Mary's was suspended five minutes before half-time when a drone was spotted hovering above the Southampton penalty area.

Both teams were taken off the pitch by referee Michael Salisbury before re-emerging 10 minutes later once police had given the all-clear.

    Reaction to Aston Villa's win at St Mary'sHow did you rate Southampton's performance? Have your say hereWhat did you make of Aston Villa's display? Send us your comments here

Villa victorious after double let-off

Only Arsenal have collected as many Premier League points as Villa since Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in the Villa Park hot seat last October.

The visitors were crisp in possession at St Mary's but struggled to properly trouble Southampton early on, Emiliano Buendia and full debutant Alex Moreno both firing well wide of Gavin Bazunu's goal inside 20 minutes.

They survived a let-off when Adams' first-half goal was disallowed but spurned an excellent opportunity to go in front when Ramsey shot straight at Bazunu from inside the area, with Leon Bailey sending the follow-up over the crossbar

Bazunu almost gifted Villa the opener in the early stages of the second half when his miscued clearance allowed Ramsey to tee up Bailey, but the Saints goalkeeper atoned for his error by smothering the Jamaica international's low shot.

Villa had another narrow escape when Salisbury disallowed Ward-Prowse's effort after Elyounoussi clipped Ramsey's ankle, but Watkins' late effort secured a third straight away league win under their new boss.

More to follow.

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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection

    SouthamptonSouthamptonSouthamptonAston VillaAston VillaAston Villa

SouthamptonStarting XIAvgSquad number31Player nameBazunuAverage rating

5.78

12345678910Squad number4Player nameLyancoAverage rating

5.74

12345678910Squad number6Player nameCaleta-CarAverage rating

5.64

12345678910Squad number22Player nameSalisuAverage rating

5.67

12345678910Squad number2Player nameWalker-PetersAverage rating

6.02

12345678910Squad number27Player nameDialloAverage rating

5.34

12345678910Squad number45Player nameLaviaAverage rating

5.73

12345678910Squad number23Player nameEdozieAverage rating

5.62

12345678910Squad number8Player nameWard-ProwseAverage rating

6.17

12345678910Squad number9Player nameA ArmstrongAverage rating

5.62

12345678910Squad number10Player nameAdamsAverage rating

5.63

12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number11Player nameOrsicAverage rating

4.79

12345678910Squad number15Player namePerraudAverage rating

5.08

12345678910Squad number18Player nameMaraAverage rating

4.90

12345678910Squad number19Player nameDjenepoAverage rating

4.49

12345678910Squad number24Player nameElyounoussiAverage rating

5.16

12345678910Share your Southampton player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share linkAston VillaStarting XIAvgSquad number1Player nameE MartínezAverage rating

7.71

12345678910Squad number18Player nameYoungAverage rating

7.29

12345678910Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating

7.05

12345678910Squad number5Player nameMingsAverage rating

7.21

12345678910Squad number15Player nameÁlex MorenoAverage rating

7.33

12345678910Squad number41Player nameJ RamseyAverage rating

7.22

12345678910Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating

7.29

12345678910Squad number44Player nameKamaraAverage rating

7.40

12345678910Squad number10Player nameBuendíaAverage rating

7.19

12345678910Squad number31Player nameBaileyAverage rating

7.17

12345678910Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating

7.41

12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number2Player nameCashAverage rating

7.44

12345678910Squad number23Player namePhilippe CoutinhoAverage rating

7.04

12345678910Squad number32Player nameDendonckerAverage rating

7.10

12345678910Share your Aston Villa player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share link

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsSouthampton

Formation 4-2-3-1

31Bazunu4Lyanco6Caleta-Car22Salisu2Walker-Peters27Diallo45Lavia23Edozie8Ward-Prowse9A Armstrong10Adams

    31Bazunu4LyancoBooked at 13mins6Caleta-CarSubstituted forDjenepoat 84'minutes22Salisu2Walker-Peters27Diallo45LaviaSubstituted forElyounoussiat 61'minutes23EdozieSubstituted forPerraudat 62'minutes8Ward-Prowse9A ArmstrongSubstituted forOrsicat 84'minutes10AdamsSubstituted forMaraat 61'minutes

Substitutes

    3Maitland-Niles7Aribo11Orsic13Caballero15Perraud18Mara19Djenepo24Elyounoussi26Alcaraz

Aston Villa

Formation 4-4-2

1E Martínez18Young4Konsa5Mings15Moreno Lopera41J Ramsey6Douglas Luiz44Kamara10Buendía31Bailey11Watkins

    1E Martínez18Young4Konsa5Mings15Moreno LoperaBooked at 82mins41J Ramsey6Douglas LuizBooked at 64minsSubstituted forDendonckerat 88'minutes44Kamara10BuendíaSubstituted forCoutinhoat 69'minutes31BaileySubstituted forCashat 81'minutes11Watkins

Substitutes

    2Cash8Sanson16Chambers23Coutinho25Olsen32Dendoncker38Sinisalo72Young

Referee:Michael SalisburyMatch StatsHome TeamSouthamptonAway TeamAston VillaPossessionHome37%Away63%ShotsHome8Away16Shots on TargetHome5Away5CornersHome2Away2FoulsHome19Away9Live Text Post update

Match ends, Southampton 0, Aston Villa 1.

90'+5'Full Time

Second Half ends, Southampton 0, Aston Villa 1.

90'+3'Post update

Offside, Southampton. Kyle Walker-Peters tries a through ball, but Sékou Mara is caught offside.

90'+2'Post update

Attempt saved. Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross.

90'+1'Post update

Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Emiliano Martínez.

90'+1'Post update

Attempt saved. Moussa Djenepo (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi.

90'Post update

Attempt missed. Sékou Mara (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Moussa Djenepo with a cross.

88'Substitution

Substitution, Aston Villa. Leander Dendoncker replaces Douglas Luiz.

87'Post update

Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

87'Post update

Foul by Sékou Mara (Southampton).

85'Post update

Offside, Southampton. Kyle Walker-Peters tries a through ball, but Mislav Orsic is caught offside.

84'Substitution

Substitution, Southampton. Moussa Djenepo replaces Duje Caleta-Car.

84'Substitution

Substitution, Southampton. Mislav Orsic replaces Adam Armstrong.

82'Post update

Attempt missed. Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross following a set piece situation.

82'Booking

Álex Moreno (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

82'Post update

Foul by Álex Moreno (Aston Villa).

82'Post update

Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.

81'Substitution

Substitution, Aston Villa. Matty Cash replaces Leon Bailey.

81'Post update

Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

81'Post update

Foul by Sékou Mara (Southampton).

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Source: bbc.com

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