Russell Martin made it clear that there would be no rousing Churchillian team talk to try to transform Southampton’s struggling season, and honestly, perhaps there is nothing anyone can do now to save their Premier League status. They once again had moments, as they often do, usually thanks to the prodigious 18-year-old Tyler Dibling, but the visitors, who have won just once in the league all season, left the field empty-handed. Once more, painfully for Saints, four points adrift at the bottom of the table, an individual error allowed the opposition to strike, with Jhon Durán scoring to secure Aston Villa consecutive victories.
The decisive moment came midway through the first half. Diego Carlos floated a ball forward towards Durán, and while Nathan Wood initially seemed to have it under control, his grip quickly faltered. Taylor Harwood-Bellis tried to intervene, but Durán capitalized on the confusion, overpowering Harwood-Bellis and then shaking off a floundering Wood, pushing him out of the way, before finishing the move. Durán, given a first league start of the season in place of Ollie Watkins and one of four changes by Unai Emery, took his opportunity. John McGinn missed a chance to seal victory late in the game.
The reality is that the back three of Wood, Harwood-Bellis, and James Bree, who was replaced by Joe Aribo at halftime, were playing in the second tier last season, and such defensive lapses are usually punished in this division. After falling behind, it always felt like a huge task for the Saints to mount a comeback. The wait for a first-half league goal away from St Mary’s this season continues. Dibling was the catalyst for most positive moments, driving forward midway through the second half with Villa substitutes Lucas Digne and Jaden Philogene in pursuit before freeing the returning former Villa striker Cameron Archer, only for Boubacar Kamara to make a smart block.
Sam Amo-Ameyaw, another promising Saints youngster introduced off the bench, sent in a dangerous left-foot cross from the right flank with his first touch, but Emiliano Martínez smothered the ball, which bounced invitingly on the edge of the six-yard box. Would Villa regret not finishing the game? Ezri Konsa prevented Kyle Walker-Peters’s deep cross from reaching Adam Armstrong at the back post, and deep into five minutes of stoppage time, Aribo squared for Armstrong, but the Saints captain failed to connect from close range.
After eight games without a victory, Villa have now won twice in four days. Now, Villa, up to fifth after holding on in difficult conditions, can focus on trying to return to winning ways on the continent, with RB Leipzig next up on Tuesday.
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
