Southampton vs Aston Villa. Premier League.
St. Mary's StadiumAttendance29,645.
Saturday 5 December 2015 20:21, UK
Bottom club Aston Villa held Southampton to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at St Mary's, but remain without a win in 14 Premier League games.
Joleon Lescott put Villa ahead just before half-time from close range, but Saints equalised in the 73rd minute through substitute Oriol Romeu's half-volley from a corner.
Saints had numerous chances to grab a win, but the result leaves Villa still rooted to the bottom of the Premier League with six points, and their winless run goes on, while Saints drop to 12th.
Southampton dominated the early stages, and had four clear opportunities to take the lead in the first half.
Dusan Tadic blazed over the bar from 12 yards after three minutes following Sadio Mane's pull back, before Graziano Pelle's effort went the same way from Tadic's pinpoint cross two minutes later.
Then, after Brad Guzan's poor punch found its way to Jose Fonte, the defender's effort was superbly turned over the bar by Rudy Gestede, and from the following corner Mane somehow headed over unmarked at the far post from four yards.
But against the run of play Villa scored a minute before half-time, Lescott turning home Jordan Veretout's corner from four yards following some poor Southampton defending.
Saints picked up their dominance in the second half, and should have been level on 65 minutes through former Villa midfielder Steven Davis, but his close-range effort was superbly blocked by Alan Hutton.
Guzan was then at his best to deny Juanmi's 20-yard effort, but the hosts got their equaliser with 17 minutes remaining.
Substitute Romeu, who had been introduced just 10 minutes earlier, got on the end of James Ward-Prowse's corner at the far post to stab home into the bottom left corner past Guzan.
It was struggling Villa who had the best chance to win the game through Ashley Westwood, but the substitute sliced his left-footed effort wide of the far post following Carlos Sanchez's deft cross.
Despite late pressure in their area, Villa held on to earn their first away point since the opening day of the season, while Ronald Koeman's Southampton are now without a win in four games in all competitions.
Soccer Saturday verdict - Phil Thompson
I must say Jordan Ayew, who I thought wasn't good enough for the Premier League, he was an absolute star today, he was excellent. He played on the left, got hold of the ball, showed great pace to go forward with it. When he went down the middle when Gestede went off he was excellent. All round, I thought it was a very good point for Aston Villa.
Tadic, Mane and Pelle all had very good chances and that was it in this game. Southampton are just lacking that little bit of clinical finishing, and it's just missing at the moment. It was a good point but there's a lot wrong with this Villa side. They grew in confidence but it's still not enough. They still look as though there's not enough in these players to get out of trouble.
Player ratings
Southampton: Stekelenburg (6), Cedric (6), Fonte (6), Van Dijk (6), Bertrand (7), Ward-Prowse (7), Davis (6), Wanyama (6), Mane (7), Tadic (6), Pelle (5)
Subs: Long (5), Romeu (7), Juanmi (6)
Aston Villa: Guzan (6), Hutton (6), Okore (6), Lescott (7), Bacuna (6), Gana (7), Veretout (6), Sanchez (6), Sinclair (6), Ayew (7), Gestede (5)
Subs: Agbonlahor (5), Westwood (5)
Man of the match: James Ward-Prowse
