Aston Villa surged to a 3-0 victory late on at Southampton on Saturday, as Unai Emery worked his magic with substitutes.
MORE –Full match replay
Aaron Ramsdale denied Marco Asensio twice from the penalty spot, but Ollie Watkins gave Villa the lead and Donyell Malen then made it 2-0 before John McGinn added a third in stoppage time.
Southampton remain bottom of the Premier League table on 10 points, while Villa are on 54 points and are right in the Champions League hunt.
Southampton vs Aston Villa score: 0-3
Watkins 73′, Malen 79′, McGinn 94′
Southampton vs Aston Villa live updates — By Joe Prince-Wright
McGinn wins a penalty, Asensio denied again, but McGinn scores — Southampton 0-3 Aston Villa
Stephens brings down McGinn and Asensio is denied by Ramsdale again… but McGinn is there to tap home. Ramsdale is fuming.
Fernandes denied by Martinez
A lovely strike from distance by Matheus Fernandes but Martinez makes a really good stop down low. Villa are delighted to still have that clean sheet.
Malen finishes well — Southampton 0-2 Aston Villa
Another sub makes a difference as Malen finishes well across goal. Game. Set. Match.
Brilliant finish from Watkins! — Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa
Lovely ball over the top from Tielemans and Watkins lobs the onrushing Ramsdale superbly as the ball hits the bar and goes in. Sensational finish from the Villa sub. Watkins has changed the game since he came on!
Penalty to Villa! But Ramsdale denies Asensio!
Ollie Watkins is in and brought down by a sliding Bednarek. There wasn’t much contact but there was enough. Asensio’s penalty kick is saved by Ramsdale brilliantly.
Rashford wriggles free but his cross is cleared
Wonderful fast feet from Rashford to work some space in the box but his ball across goal doesn’t find a Villa player. Brilliant play and so close to the opener for Villa.
Dibling is on for Onuachu at half time
Saints make a switch with Tyler Dibling on for Onuachu at the break. The home side have to try and keep hold of the ball more to take the pressure off.
Onuachu heads wide
It has been all Villa but Saints break again and Walker-Peters whips in a cross that Onuachu can only head just wide.
Villa seeing plenty of the ball
As excepted Aston Villa are dominating possession but Saints are sitting in well. Ramsdale has had to deny Tielemans but Emery will want to see a little more urgency.
Archer forces Martinez into a save
Decent attack by Saints as Walker-Peters finds Archer but his shot is saved by Martinez.
Southampton lineup
Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Manning; Kamaldeen, Archer; Onuachu
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Tielemans, Onana, Ramsey; Rogers, Asensio; Rashford
Southampton team news, focus
OUT: Albert Gronbaek (tendons), Flynn Downes (suspended)
Aston Villa team news, focus
QUESTIONABLE: Ross Barkley (calf), Leon Bailey (knock)
Southampton vs Aston Villa prediction
Southampton may well play like a relieved team, but that can only go so far in filling the gulf between these two. Saints just don’t produce enough goals and Villa always produce chances. Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa.
Southampton vs Aston Villa preview
Saturday will also give Saints a chance to have a new manager bounce, as Ivan Juric left the club upon relegation and the team is now being overseen by Simon Rusk in his second run as Southampton caretaker manager.
Villa’s goals are much loftier and their legs a bit heavier. They faced Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg. A UCL title is a possible route back to the competition, but Villa are also very much in the conversation for qualification via the Premier League table.
Villa’s 51 points have them in seventh place, a point back of Man City, and two behind Chelsea and Newcastle United. The top-five teams on the able will go reach the UCL next season regardless of any other competition.
How to watchSouthampton vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium — Southampton
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
Aston Villa surged to a 3-0 victory late on at Southampton on Saturday, as Unai Emery worked his magic with substitutes.
MORE – Full match replay
Aaron Ramsdale denied Marco Asensio twice from the penalty spot, but Ollie Watkins gave Villa the lead and Donyell Malen then made it 2-0 before John McGinn added a third in stoppage time.
Southampton remain bottom of the Premier League table on 10 points, while Villa are on 54 points and are right in the Champions League hunt.
Emery gets his subs spot on
Unai Emery would have been happy enough with Villa’s display at Southampton but Watkins, Malen and McGinn jumped off the bench and made a big impact late on to secure a crucial win. Saints dug in and made it tough but with the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against PSG coming up on Tuesday (Villa trail 3-1 from the first leg), both Malen and Watkins staked their claim to start. Marco Asensio not so much, as he had two penalty kicks saved by Aaron Ramsdale. Still, Aston Villa’s squad strength is pretty ridiculous and to have Waktins, McGinn and Malen coming off the bench to spark a late win showcases how they keep the intensity high and have so many talented individuals who can hurt you. With a huge Champions League game against PSG, plus the FA Cup semifinal and a Champions League push coming up, there are plenty of games for Villa’s entire squad to step up. The subs made the difference on Saturday as Emery delivered another masterclass.
What’s next?
Southampton travel to West Ham on Saturday, April 19. Aston Villa host PSG on Tuesday, then host Newcastle in a massive game in the Champions League scrap on Saturday.
Southampton vs Aston Villa score: 0-3
Watkins 73′, Malen 79′, McGinn 94′
Southampton vs Aston Villa live updates — By Joe Prince-Wright
McGinn wins a penalty, Asensio denied again, but McGinn scores — Southampton 0-3 Aston Villa
Stephens brings down McGinn and Asensio is denied by Ramsdale again… but McGinn is there to tap home. Ramsdale is fuming.
Fernandes denied by Martinez
A lovely strike from distance by Matheus Fernandes but Martinez makes a really good stop down low. Villa are delighted to still have that clean sheet.
Malen finishes well — Southampton 0-2 Aston Villa
Another sub makes a difference as Malen finishes well across goal. Game. Set. Match.
Malen drills Villa 2-0 in front of Southampton
Aston Villa quickly double their advantage as Donyell Malen buries his effort into the corner of the goal against Southampton at St. Mary’s.
Brilliant finish from Watkins! — Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa
Lovely ball over the top from Tielemans and Watkins lobs the onrushing Ramsdale superbly as the ball hits the bar and goes in. Sensational finish from the Villa sub. Watkins has changed the game since he came on!
Watkins volleys Aston Villa ahead of Southampton
Ollie Watkins’ acrobatic finish goes in under the bar to give Aston Villa a 1-0 lead over Southampton at St. Mary’s.
Penalty to Villa! But Ramsdale denies Asensio!
Ollie Watkins is in and brought down by a sliding Bednarek. There wasn’t much contact but there was enough. Asensio’s penalty kick is saved by Ramsdale brilliantly.
Rashford wriggles free but his cross is cleared
Wonderful fast feet from Rashford to work some space in the box but his ball across goal doesn’t find a Villa player. Brilliant play and so close to the opener for Villa.
Dibling is on for Onuachu at half time
Saints make a switch with Tyler Dibling on for Onuachu at the break. The home side have to try and keep hold of the ball more to take the pressure off.
Onuachu heads wide
It has been all Villa but Saints break again and Walker-Peters whips in a cross that Onuachu can only head just wide.
Villa seeing plenty of the ball
As excepted Aston Villa are dominating possession but Saints are sitting in well. Ramsdale has had to deny Tielemans but Emery will want to see a little more urgency.
Archer forces Martinez into a save
Decent attack by Saints as Walker-Peters finds Archer but his shot is saved by Martinez.
Southampton lineup
Ramsdale; Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Manning; Kamaldeen, Archer; Onuachu
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Tielemans, Onana, Ramsey; Rogers, Asensio; Rashford
Southampton team news, focus
OUT: Albert Gronbaek (tendons), Flynn Downes (suspended)
Aston Villa team news, focus
QUESTIONABLE: Ross Barkley (calf), Leon Bailey (knock)
Southampton vs Aston Villa prediction
Southampton may well play like a relieved team, but that can only go so far in filling the gulf between these two. Saints just don’t produce enough goals and Villa always produce chances. Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa.
Southampton vs Aston Villa preview
Saturday will also give Saints a chance to have a new manager bounce, as Ivan Juric left the club upon relegation and the team is now being overseen by Simon Rusk in his second run as Southampton caretaker manager.
Villa’s goals are much loftier and their legs a bit heavier. They faced Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg. A UCL title is a possible route back to the competition, but Villa are also very much in the conversation for qualification via the Premier League table.
Villa’s 51 points have them in seventh place, a point back of Man City, and two behind Chelsea and Newcastle United. The top-five teams on the able will go reach the UCL next season regardless of any other competition.
How to watch Southampton vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium — Southampton
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
