AVL vs SOU
Match Centre
AVL vs SOU As It Happened
Key moments
- Saints have their third win in five
- Ings scores twice either side of HT, meaning it's seven in seven for him
- Jack Stephens doubled the lead, heading in from a corner
- Villa get a goal back through a Grealish stunner
3️⃣ wins in 5️⃣
The perfect start to the Christmas period! Our full report from the 3-1 win at Villa Park can be found HERE
17.09FULL TIME: Aston Villa 1-3 Saints
WHAT. A. WIN. Saints gain their third win in five to kick-off this vital Christmas period. Ings has seven goals in his last seven, scoring his first after 20 mins following Long's deflected effort. Stephens doubled Saints' lead ten minutes later, heading home a Ward-Prowse corner before the break. Ings then sealed the result in the 51st minute, with Villa's only response being a Grealish stunner.
Grealish close to another worldie...
The Villa skipper hits another from that left wing, but McCarthy is level to it!
Four minutes added on...
See this out Saints! 👊
Another effort for Højbjerg...
The skipper hits one from range but Heaton gets enough behind it.
Yellow Card for Jonathan Kodjia (Aston Villa)
Villa's substitute booked for the pull of Bednarek's shirt
SO CLOSE TO A THIRD! 😫
Saints break with Højbjerg, who lays it off to Ings.
Ings's shot is well saved by Heaton, but it falls back to Højbjerg who can only hit it over with the goal gapping!
Terrific defending, Stephens! 💪
A vital challenge from the centre-back as Wesley looked to be through!
Trezeguet has another go...McCarthy claims! 😅
Ings deflects the second free-kick whilst in the wall, but McCarthy read the flight and collects well.
Villa with all the possession now...
Trezeguet takes...Romeu blocks in the wall 👊
Brave defending from the substitute!
Free-kick to Villa
Bednarek fouling Wesley and Villa have a free-kick in a dangerous position here
Grealish stunner gets one back
Credit where it's due, that's a terrific hit from Jack Grealish to give Villa a lifeline in this one.
GOAL
Jack Grealish (74’) | 1 – 3

Kodjia does well...
Villa looking a slighter better side now coming forward, winning successive corners since the arrival of Kodjia
C L I N I C A L 🎯
Danny Ings hits home his second
Ward-Prowse hits it....but Heaton collects 😔
It was in Prowsey territory, but Heaton does well to hold onto his effort
Yellow Card for Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa)
The Villa player charges into Danny Ings as Saints counter again, conceding a free-kick in a promising position...
Perfect ball from Ingsy 👏
He's involved again, this time winning back possession before hitting a cross towards an unmarked Long...
Redmond goes so, so close! 😫
Long feeds through Redmond, who twists and turns and beats his man before firing into the side netting!
Saints so dangerous on the break...
Ings back defending, before countering!
Danny Ings has been everywhere today! Himself and Long back helping the defensive efforts before launching a counter attack...
Redmond plays the ball through and the number nine is inches away from latching onto it before Heaton collects.
Villa pilling on the pressure...
The home side looking to get the ball in the Saints box at any given opportunity.
Saints holding firm so far!
THAT. MAN. AGAIN.
A complete mess at the back for Villa, Danny Ings hits it in on the half-term emphatically!
GOOOAL!!!
Danny Ings (50’) | 0 – 3
Villa get the game back underway...
Let's keep this up, Saints!
You know who 😏
Danny Ings on the scoresheet again 👊
What's that? 2-0 Saints? 🤔
Jack Stephens celebrates our second of the afternoon following a barnstorming start from Hasenhüttl's men!
HALF-TIME: Aston Villa 0-2 Saints
It's a perfect start to the game for Saints, who go in at the break two goals to the good. Danny Ings struck once again inside 20 minutes to put the yellows ahead; the Englishman in the right place at the right time to hit home the rebounded Shane Long effort. Ten minutes later it was two; Jack Stephens heading home a Ward-Prowse corner in what was a dominating first half for Hasenhüttl's men.
Top save McCarthy 👐
Not had much to do this half, but our man between the sticks is there to respond to a Gilbert shot from just outside the penalty area.
Four minutes added time...
Let's see this out till the break!
Yellow Card for James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Ward-Prowse in the book after halting Grealish's breakaway for the hosts.
Stephens defends well 💪
Back to the day job for Jack Stephens, who does brilliantly to quell the Aston Villa pressure with a sliding challenge
Engels almost catching out Heaton 👀
The Villa defender looks to set the ball back with a lofted ball, luckily for the hosts Heaton was alert...
STEPHENSSSSS ☄️
Ward-Prowse's corner, which Stephens rises highest for and heads home!
GOOOAL!!!
Jack Stephens (31’) | 0 – 2
Douglas-Luiz hits one wide...
Villa looking to respond, Douglas-Luiz dragging an effort wide of McCarthy's right post.
OFF THE LINE! 😫
Constant pressure from Saints, Shane Long involved once again heading across goal which Villa scramble off the line.
Keep this up, Saints!
Long coming close now!
Jack Stephens (yes, you read that right) surging through the Villa defence and finding Long, whose clever flick is well blocked by Heaton.
Great pressure this from Saints!
INGSY AGAIN!
It's 3️⃣straight away goals for Danny Ings, who was in the right place at the right time to covert the rebound following Shane Long's blocked goal. UP THE SAINTS!
GOOOAL!!!
Danny Ings (20’) | 0 – 1
Another chance for Villa...
End-to-end here; Wesley this time hitting an effort on the half volley just past the post following a good cross.
Long comes so, so close 😱
Lovely play down the left from Bertrand and Remond, the former firing in a cross which Long heads over from close range.
Big chance for Villa...
El Ghazi finds space at the back post following a deep cross and a bit of confusion in the Saints defence, but McCarthy manages to get a block in!
McGinn down receiving treatment
Scotland's player of the year John McGinn is down and looks like he will need to be replaced. Big blow for Villa this...
Ward-Prowse tests Heaton 👏
Another Saints free-kick, this time taken by Ward-Prowse who lofts it over the wall and provides an early test for Tom Heaton.
Early Saints free-kick...
Shane Long with a lovely touch off the chest and he sets free Ings, but is fouled as Saints' break is dealt with by Villa.
Saints get us underway...
COME ON YOU SAINTS
Handshakes ✅
Time for the talking to stop, COME ON YOU SAINTS!
14.58Half an hour till action... 🎬
Looking forward to this one, Saints fans?
14.28Aston Villa XI
Starting XI: Heaton, Guilbert, Engels, Hause, Targett, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Hourihane, El Ghazi, Wesley, Grealish (c)
Subs: Nyland, Elmohamady, Konsa, Nakamba, Lansbury, Trezeguet, Kodja
14.11Stu starts! 👊
Stuart Armstrong comes in for the injured Moussa Djenepo for today's game; the only change from the defeat to West Ham a week ago. Sofiane Boufal returns to the bench. Aston Villa make two changes to defeat at Sheffield United.
14.09Today's Saints XI 😇
Starting XI: McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg (c), Redmond, Armstrong, Long, Ings

⚠️ IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION
Aston Villa have advised supporters find an alternative route to Villa Park, following an incident on the M6 between junction 5 and 6.
12.42Pre-match thoughts 🗣
Earlier in the week we caught up with manager Ralph Hasenhüttl, who addressed team news, today's opponents and how his side are shaping up.
13.5213.49We are so focused on what we're doing and convinced about what we're doing that we know we can take something there."
Ralph HasenhüttlSouthampton fc manager
💛 M A T C H D A Y 🖤
It's a Premier League away day for Saints, who head to Aston Villa level on points and one position lower than Saturday's hosts. Looking for their first win in three, manager Ralph Hasenhüttl has pinpointed the trip to Villa Park as an opportunity they must take. Villa will also be looking at today's fixture as being key, as they seek a first league win since the end of November.
13.38AVL vs SOU Line Ups
Aston Villa
1 |
Tom Heaton (GK)
|
---|---|
22 |
Björn Engels
|
30 |
Kortney Hause
|
18 |
Matt Targett
|
24 |
Frederic Guilbert
|
7 |
John McGinn
Marvelous Nakamba (8′)
|
14 |
Conor Hourihane
Jonathan Kodjia (56′)
|
6 |
Douglas Luiz
|
9 |
Wesley
|
21 |
Anwar El Ghazi
Trézéguet (68′)
|
10 |
Jack Grealish (C)
|
Substitutes
26 |
Jonathan Kodjia |
---|---|
11 |
Marvelous Nakamba |
8 |
Henri Lansbury |
27 |
Ahmed El Mohamady |
15 |
Ezri Konsa Ngoyo |
25 |
Ørjan Nyland |
17 |
Trézéguet |
Southampton
1 |
Alex McCarthy (GK)
|
---|---|
5 |
Jack Stephens
|
2 |
Cédric Soares
|
21 |
Ryan Bertrand
|
35 |
Jan Bednarek
|
22 |
Nathan Redmond
|
16 |
James Ward-Prowse
|
17 |
Stuart Armstrong
Oriol Romeu (76′)
|
23 |
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (C)
|
9 |
Danny Ings
Che Adams (87′)
|
7 |
Shane Long
Michael Obafemi (82′)
|
Substitutes
3 |
Maya Yoshida |
---|---|
19 |
Sofiane Boufal |
28 |
Angus Gunn |
20 |
Michael Obafemi |
10 |
Che Adams |
4 |
Jannik Vestergaard |
14 |
Oriol Romeu |
AVL vs SOU Match Stats

Head to Head Stats
-
Possession (%)5644
-
Shots1917
-
Shots on target68
-
Corners75
-
Passes Complete335234