Southampton 2 Aston Villa 0 - Report and pictures

The Republic of Ireland international converted Moussa Djenepo’s cross for his 10th career goal against Villa.

Southampton should have won by more but a combination of poor finishing and Villa goalkeeper Pepe Reina kept the visitors in it.

But Dean Smith’s struggled to make any impact in attack, with Armstrong bagging the home side’s second right at the death.

Analysis

The winger slotted home into an empty net when the Saints broke after Reina had gone up for a Villa corner deep into stoppage time.

It was desperation stakes by that stage for Villa, who failed to create a serious chance of their own in 90 minutes.

Home keeper Alex McCarthy’s only serious work of the afternoon came when he had to twice save from Trezeguet, though on both occasions the Egyptian international was offside.

For the Saints, who prior to this match possessed the Premier League’s worst home record, this was a rare win in front of their own fans which eased their own lingering fears of being dragged back into the relegation battle.

Villa, by contrast, remain right in the thick of it after their 10th away defeat of the season. Smith’s team remain just one point above the drop zone and must know they will need to produce far better than this between now and the end of the season to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Villa’s line-up featured two changes from the one which started the previous weekend’s clash with Tottenham, including a return in defence for Tyrone Mings at the expense of Bjorn Engels. There was also a recall for Marvelous Nakamba in midfield, with Danny Drinkwater dropping to the bench.

Smith would have hoped Mings’ return might have restored some solidity to the defence but Villa were fortunate to still be in the match after 25 minutes.

Long’s eighth minute opener was symptomatic of their problems. A pass infield was diverted by Nakamba but no visiting player reacted, allowing Djenepo to reach the byline and cross for Long, who turned the ball in off his midriff, Reina appealing in vain for handball.

The keeper’s usually reliable distribution was causing his team problems and he was forced to redeem himself twice in quick succession.

First he denied Danny Ings after a short chip out of his area had left Villa’s defence all at sea.

Reina then repeated the trick after another short goal-kick, this time intended for Anwar El Ghazi, was pounced on by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The midfielder set Djenepo racing into the box only for Reina to save his shot.

Villa, who failed to test home keeper Alex McCarthy in the first-half, lost Anwar El Ghazi to a head injury just prior to the half-hour mark to a head injury. He was replaced off the bench by Trezeguet.

The visitors were struggling to get any kind of foothold in the match and the Saints had more chances to increase their lead early in the second period.

Jack Stephens turned a free-kick over the bar at the near post, while Reina saved a Hojbjerg volley after the Villa defence was again carved open.

Smith made a change just prior to the hour mark with Conor Hourihane replacing Ezri Konsa as Villa reverted to four at the back.

Grealish then sent Trezeguet racing through on goal and though the flag was up when the Egyptian international shot weakly at McCarthy, replays suggested there would have been a tight VAR review had he scored.

Villa were at last starting to threaten. Both Hourihane and Mbwana Samatta had shots blocked, the former when Grealish was perhaps better placed.

Former Blues striker Che Adams, on as a substitute, shot wide for the hosts as the game approached the final 10 minutes.

Villa then avoided near calamity at the back as Reina and Kortney Hause left the ball for each other, allowing Michael Obafemi to nip in. Reina denied the striker, before Hause then blocked from Adams.

Smith introduced Borja Baston off the bench but Villa remained toothless before Armstrong sealed victory with virtually the last kick.

Key Moments

8 - GOAL Shane Long puts the hosts in front by bagging his 10th career goal against Villa. The Republic of Ireland international deflects home Moussa Djenepo’s cross after the visitors go to sleep at the back.

90+4 GOAL Stuart Armstrong gets the Saints second.

Teams

Villa (3-4-3): Reina, Konsa (Hourihane 59), Mings, Hause, Guilbert, Nakamba (Baston 81), Luiz, Targett, El Ghazi (Trezeguet 28), Samatta, Grealish Subs not used: Elmohamady, Engels, Drinkwater, Nyland (gk).

Southampton (4-2-2-2): McCarthy, Smallbone (Romeu 80), Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Armstrong, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Djenepo, Long (Obafemi 73), Ings (Adams 73) Subs not used: Vestergaard, Boufal, Valery, Gunn (gk).