Aston Villa will aim to stitch together a good run of results after ending their distal run in midweek as they host basement club Southampton.
Unai Emery might have been relieved at seeing a more favourable score on the big screen as Aston Villa, who face Southampton this weekend, eased past Brentford in midweek. It also felt like an eternity for the club’s fans as the team went an astonishing winless run of eight games across all competitions.
Villa put in a clinical first-half performance as Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, and Matty Cash all scored in a 13-minute window to put the game past Brentford. Emery will now aim to stitch together a good run of results, and that win would have galvanised the squad altogether.
Some terrible results before that Brentford game meant Aston Villa lost their grip on their objectives for the season, as they have slipped to eighth in the standings. However, they are still within touching distance of the top four teams, as Emery will want to close the gap, and the fans will certainly expect a big result against bottom-placed Southampton.
Russell Martin will be wary of his side’s growing reputation as a sureshot relegation contender. If their bottom-placed position in the standings was not enough to make that point clear, their performances on their pitch are certainly showing signs of doom for the Saints.
After showing grit and tremendous fighting spirit in the two games before midweek, Southampton should have taken some confidence from their games against Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion. Against the latter, they fought back to a draw, but in order to improve, they needed desperate wins to get themselves going.
However, at home, they hosted Chelsea in midweek, as Enzo Maresca’s men put them to the sword by scoring five past Martin’s side. Jack Stephens’s red card in the first half did not help them in a potential fightback, although by the time he was sent off, Southampton was already three goals down. Now, they face another tough test, this time away at Villa, as not many will bet on the Saints to get anything in Birmingham.
Team News & Tactics
Aston Villa
There is every chance that Emery will make some considerable changes to the lineup, especially with the UEFA Champions League tie against RB Leipzig in mind. The usage of Tyrone Mings in midweek was certainly a big indication that Emery would like to rest Pau Torres for the key midweek game.
Mings could continue in his role in the central defensive unit at the weekend, although Emery will like to manage his minutes now, meaning Pau Torres is in line for the return to the lineup.
The manager could also be boosted with the return of Amadou Onana, as Aston Villa have certainly missed the midfielder, although he could only be kept on the bench against Southampton.
Jacob Ramsey is the only player out of action at the moment, while the likes of Diego Carlos, Jhon Duran and Ian Maatsen will be eyeing a place in the lineup. However, any decision will rest with Emerry to take a call on their respective selections against Southampton.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Bailey, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn; Roger; Watkins
Southampton
The Saints are reeling from injury issues and will have further complications with the absence of Stephens through a suspension. This could see Martins revert to a back three as Kyle Walker-Peters, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Nathan Wood are likely to start there.
In terms of absentees, Adam Lallana headlines the list which also includes Gavin Bazunu, Aaron Ramsdale, Will Smallbone, and Ross Stewart. There are further doubts with Jan Bednarek and Paul Onuachu. Mateus Fernandes and Flynn Downes are in line for starts in those midfield berths.
Yukinari Sugawara and Ryan Manning are pencilled in to start in those wing-back positions. Key performer Tyler Dibling will resume in his attacking spot on the right-hand side, while Adam Armstrong occupies the left wing. Cameron Archer will be preferred to lead the line for Southampton against Aston Villa.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Lumley; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Wood; Sugawara, Fernandes, Downes, Manning; Dibling, Archer, Armstrong
Key Stats
Aston Villa have won their last three matches against Southampton in all competitions.
Aston Villa have kept a clean sheet in their last three matches against Southampton in all competitions.
Aston Villa ended an eight-game winless run in all competitions with their win against Brentford in midweek.
Southampton have lost 16 of their last 20 matches in the Premier League.
Southampton are winless in their last four games in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Ollie Watkins
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Goals win matches, and that statement should be etched in Ollie Watkins’s mind going forward, as the striker could have a big say in some of the upcoming games for Aston Villa. Having struggled to stitch together a win, the club ended a dreadful run of eight winless games in all competitions.
Watkins scoring earlier this week should boost his confidence, especially in the context of where Villa are in their season. There is an important UEFA Champions League game coming, and the Englishman will certainly target yet another goalscoring display at the weekend when they face Southampton.
Prediction
Aston Villa 3-1 Southampton
Southampton have been dismal all season, but they have fought back in flashes during the season, and that could be the case against Aston Villa at Villa Park. The Saints could still manage to score that odd goal here, but they are far from taking anything on Saturday, as another loss beckons Martins.
Unai Emery will be hopeful of stitching together a string of wins, and the Southampton game could not have come at a better time. With a win in the bag earlier this week, Aston Villa will target another one on Saturday, as they are the overwhelming favourites to put multiple goals past Southampton and regain some foothold in their hunt for a top-four place.