Southampton 0 Aston Villa 3 - Report

The striker lifted a superb volleyed finish over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale as Unai Emery’s team finally broke stubborn resistance from the relegated Saints.

Ramsdale had denied Marco Asensio from the penalty spot just minutes earlier after Watkins had been fouled in the box.

But Villa were comfortable winners in the end, Donyell Malen scoring before John McGinn netted on the rebound after Ramsdale denied Asensio from the spot again in stoppage time.

Analysis

Watkins is now just one shy of equalling Gabriel Agbonlahor’s club record of 74 Premier League goals.

In his current catalogue, this goal was surely his finest finish. Lunging at full stretch to meet Youri Tielemans’ lofted pass, he somehow directed his finish over Ramsdale, the ball bouncing down off the bar and over the line.

It came just at the moment Villa were fearing the worst, against a Southampton team who put up dogged resistance in the first match since their relegation back to the Championship was confirmed.

Anything less than a win would have been a huge blow to Emery's teams hopes of finishing in the top five and securing a return to the Champions League.

Watkins had won a penalty within two minutes of replacing Marcus Rashford off the bench but just when it looked as though Villa would make the breakthrough, Ramsdale saved the spot-kick.

But there was nothing the keeper could do about Watkins’ moment of magic three minutes later. 

Villa ended up cruising home, with fellow substitutes Malen and McGinn also netting, the latter albeit after Ramsdale had again denied Asensio.

The win was Villa’s fourth in a row, lifting them up to fifth in the table, now just three points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest. 

Watkins had found himself on the bench for the fourth time in five matches, as Emery made four changes from the starting XI beaten at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.

Tielemans is the only Villa player to have started every Premier League match and it took him fewer than 30 seconds to split the home defence with a pass over the top. Jan Bednarek threw himself in the way of Marcus Rashford’s shot to prevent Villa making the perfect start.

That moment set the tone for a dogged defensive performance from the home side, with Bednarek in the right place again to clear after a Tielemans free-kick had found an unmarked Matty Cash at the far post.

Almost all of the play seemed to be within 35 yards of Aaron Ramsdale’s goal but it was Martinez who was then forced into the first save. Kyle Walker-Peters’ arching pass found Archer running in behind. The angle was always in the favour of the Villa keeper, who made a strong save.

Ramsdale’s first serious work was to deny Tielemans at close range after the ball had broken to the midfielder inside the six-yard box.

Otherwise, Villa were off target and too tentative. When Ramsey did try and inject some drive, he saw his effort blocked as the home side continued to play spoiler.

Ramsdale was not seriously tested again until the opening minutes of the second half when Amadou Onana let fly from 25 yards and keeper saved smartly, diving to his right.

Again, it proved a rare exertion, as Mings drilled an effort off target, Tielemans volleyed well over and Rashford, having got to the byline, was unable to pick out an unmarked Konsa six yards out.

Rashford was replaced by Watkins midway through the half and the latter had an almost immediate impact, racing on to Rogers’ pass, before being brought down by Bednarek. But Ramsdale guessed right in diving to his left to beat away Asensio’s spot-kick as Villa’s afternoon reached the peak of its frustration.

Soon after came the release. Tielemans lifted a ball over the top and Watkins, at full stretch, somehow lifted a volleyed finish over Ramsdale and in off the bar.

The relief from players and travelling supporters was palpable and soon it was Malen’s team to get in on the act. The Netherlands international collected Rogers’ through ball in stride, before lashing a finish into the bottom corner.

Martinez saved from Mateus Fernandes before Villa netted again in stoppage time. Taylor Harwood-Bellis brought down McGinn, Ramsdale saved again but the visiting skipper was quickest following up to score.

Key Moments

70 PENALTY SAVED Ollie Watkins is brought down in the box but Aaron Ramsdale saves Marco Asensio’s spot-kick.

73 GOAL Watkins puts Villa in front, lifting a superb volleyed finish over Ramsdale from Youri Tielemans’ pass.

79 GOAL Villa are two to the good. Donyell Malen lashes home after collecting Morgan Rogers’ pass.

90+4 GOAL John McGinn scores on the rebound after Aaron Ramsdale again denies Asensio from the spot.

Teams

Southampton (3-4-3): Ramsdale, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens, Walker-Peters, Fernandes (Robinson 809), Ugochukwu, Manning (Sugawara 82), Archer (Stewart 61), Onuachu (Dibling HT), Sulemana (Smallbone 61) Subs not used: Aribo, Bree, Wood, McCarthy (gk).

Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash (Garcia 85), Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Onana (Kamara 89), Tielemans, Rogers (McGinn 85), Asensio, Ramsey (Malen 66), Rashford (Watkins 66) Subs not used: Disasi, Digne, Torres, Olsen (gk).