Valiant Villa edge tight win against struggling Southampton
An unexpected three-game winning streak, including a 2-0 win over Manchester City, gave relegation contenders Southampton enough of a boost to push the visitors on the back foot in the opening minutes.
The Saints’ dominant opening almost gave them the lead midway through the half, though Kyle Walker-Peters was adjudged offside in the build-up much to the disappointment of the home faithful.
Villa raised their game however, and came close twice in the same run of play, only to see Jacob Ramsey sky his shot after Ollie Watkins forced Gavin Bazunu into a superb save.
Fans were then taken by surprise when the game was suspended after a drone was caught flying over St. Mary’s Stadium, forcing officials to direct players off the pitch.
However, it resumed less than 10 minutes later as the handful of remaining first-half minutes played out before both teams headed back inside without tasting the opener.
Following a scrappy start to the second period in a bid to draw first blood, a moment of drama materialised in the 65th minute when the home side were once again left begging for more.
James Ward-Prowse’s deflected effort, which found the back of the net, was ruled out after a VAR review that noticed a foul in the build-up.
However, just when some thought the game would be heading for a draw, Watkins came through with a brilliant header 10 minutes before FT, which Bazunu was unable to keep out following a perfect free-kick delivery.
Ultimately, Nathan Jones’ outfit looked visibly shaken and were unable to carve spaces through the lines in a tense finale.
Villa register their first away H2H win since January 2021, as they continue their ascent up the table with a third unbeaten league game.
While the Saints will rue their missed efforts, which could have seen them avoid a first defeat in four competitive matches.
They sit in the same position at the same stage of the 2004/05 campaign, when they eventually suffered their only Premier League relegation.
