Southampton vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the reaction from St. Mary's Stadium
Southampton suffered a blow in their bid to avoid Premier League relegation as they went down 1-0 at home to Aston Villa in a match disrupted by a rogue drone on Saturday.
Ollie Watkins struck Villa’s winner in the 77th minute off a free kick by Douglas Luiz shortly after Saints had been controversially denied the opening goal by VAR.
The home crowd had erupted when Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse’s deflected effort found the net in the 63rd minute but their joy was cut short with substitute Mohamed Elyounoussi deemed to have fouled Jacob Ramsey in the box.
Moussa Djenepo came close to a late equaliser but Villa held on for a third successive away league win as their resurgence under new manager Unai Emery continued.
Southampton, who could have escaped the drop zone with a victory, remain bottom with 15 points from 20 games. Villa stay 11th on 28 points.
Southampton vs Aston Villa
That's all from us, we hope you enjoyed the game. Until next time, goodbye!
Southampton vs Aston Villa
A seventh loss in eight for Southampton leaves Nathan Jones' side rooted to the bottom of the table on 15 points after 20 games played. They're still only two points from safety, but need to start putting some consistent form together if they're to have a fightring chance of survival. A third win in four for Villa on the other hand, sees Unai Emery's men stay 11th, and are three points off Brighton in sixth. This rich vein of post-Qatar form is helping Villa rise up the table, and with both Chelsea and Liverpool just one point ahead of the Villans, the Birmingham club will fancy their chances of climbing further still.
Southampton vs Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins' winner had been on the cards all game, with the striker having four attempts from seven touches in the box. He scored with the only one of those shots on target, compiling a total xG of 0.53. He also contested three aerial duels, winning one, and also gained two free-kicks, one of which was crossed in by Luiz for the Villa frontman to nod home. Target.
Southampton vs Aston Villa
The full-time whistle is drowned out by the booing St. Mary's crowd, who feel they certainly should have got something from a game that eventually went Aston Villa's way! The ever-dependable Ward-Prowse looked to have saved his side once again when his deflected shot hit the back of the net, but VAR denied his after a lengthy review! Things went from bad to worse as Watkins nodded in the winner some 12 minutes later, and Villa hung on until the very last to secure all three points! Saints certainly played like a side with their season on the line, and were hugely unlucky to not get the point (at least) they deserved, but with each passing week, and defeat, the south coast side are staring relegation in the face.
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