Saints vs AST
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Saints clinch home win over Villa

An early goal from Shane Long and a late one from Stuart Armstrong were enough to secure Southampton’s first league double under Ralph Hasenhüttl. Our report.

FULL-TIME: Saints 2-0 Villa

Three points are ours! A fantastic win for Ralph Hasenhüttl's side, with goals scored by Shane Long and Stuart Armstrong. Entirely deserved - Saints move ten points clear of the drop zone as a result.

GOALSCORER 17 Stuart Armstrong

THAT SEALS IT

Saints break, it's a fantastic ball from Adams to spot Armstrong on the run. He's nearly ran the length of the pitch to latch onto the pass, with the goal gaping, and slots into an empty net.

4 minutes added...

Saints continue to lead, but will need to see out four minutes of additional time to claim the points...

Nervy end

It's end to end here. Højbjerg does well to dispossess Grealish, sets away Obafemi who rounds Luiz but runs out of energy. Game has really opened up.

Adams denied once more

Obafemi had run down the ball and collided with Reina, it came lose and Adams hit it goalward but it was blocked by the frame of Hause. 

Solid Premier League debut 👊

Adams fires wide

So close to a first Saints goal for the substitute. He links well with Armstrong, turns and shoots from distance. But it's marginally off target.

Southampton substitution: Oriol Romeu replaces Will Smallbone

Final swap.

Sponsored by

Southampton substitution: Michael Obafemi replaces Shane Long

Second change.

Sponsored by

Southampton substitution: Ché Adams replaces Danny Ings

First change for Saints.

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Reina denies Bertrand

Armstrong works the ball to the full-back, who shoots, but the sting was taken out of it by Hause. 

Wayward from Djenepo

He's having a real impact on the game from wide left, as he cuts inside and shoots with his right. Off target this time. Højbjerg tries his luck in the next wave of attack and forces another good save from Reina.

Stephens chance

He latches onto a wonderful delivery from Bertrand, but hooks his effort narrowly over the bar. Saints in ascendance again, as Armstrong sneaks in behind, in front of Reina, but hits the side netting from a tight angle.

Lovely play

The hosts beginning the second half much in the same way as they ended the previous one. Prowsey with another corner, which Højbjerg met and deflected off Marvelous. Ings with the follow up, blocked.

Djenepo intercepts

And sets Saints on their way. He plays it wide to Long, who hit a first time pass towards the runners infield. Luiz stretches a leg to deal with it, and diverts the ball for a corner. 

 Ready for the second half?

We are! Saints get us back under way. No changes for either side. Shane Long's goal remains the difference...

HALF-TIME: Saints 1-0 Villa

Very productive first 45 from the hosts. Dominated in every sense of the word. Shane Long with the opener, and could have been more after chances fell the way of Djenepo and Ings. Just the one goal separating the sides at the break.

Strong finish

The hosts ending the half strongly. They've dominated possession for the majority of the first 45 minutes. Bertrand's corner is the latest chance, calls for hand ball, but nothing given. 

Long slices wide

Superb midfield play from Armstrong, who runs at the Villa defence and forces them to retreat. Options to his left and right, he chooses to play Long wide right, but the forward slices wide.

🤕

Wild from Bertrand

Bednarek calmly brings the ball down and plays it into the path of the full-back. He shoots but blazes the effort way over the bar.

Djenepo receiving treatment

Break in play as Moussa Djenepo clashes with Marvelous and is down receiving treatment. Looks to have a cut above his eye.

Holding his own 

Will Smallbone competing well in midfield. Saints looking comfortable in possession, but should having a larger advantage after creating chances aplenty. 

Saints pressurising

Another chance for a second goal goes begging. Pepe Reina with his third big save of the half. This time he denies Djenepo with a big left hand - although Ings looked to be offside in the build up.

Glorious chance

Opportunity for Saints to double their lead. Ings gets the first chance, but Reina stands tall and saves with his legs. The ball eventually breaks to Djenepo eight yards from goal, but he blazes over.

📸

Picture perfect! Danny Ings celebrates with Shane Long, having scored the home side's opener. 

Grealish fouled

Prowsey rather heavy handed with the midfielder, and fouls him. Free-kick given, nothing more. He's keeping close tabs on the Villa captain.

Lovely turn from Djenepo

The winger fashions a chance from almost nothing, rolling Luiz in midfield and releasing Bertrand. He didn't have much by way of support so elected to shoot, and hit the side netting. It's all Saints currently. 

GOALSCORER 7 Shane Long

DEADLOCK BROKEN

Djenepo gets to the byline and pulls the ball back for Longy at the near post, it almost hits him and goes in - but right place right time and Saints lead! 

Smallbone strikes the post

Djenepo worked the ball well to the youngster, making his Premier League debut, and his shot takes a deflection and then hits the woodwork. Resulting corner doesn't come to much. 

Prowsey special

The midfielder, filling in at full-back today, whips the ball to the near post. It's again headed by Mings, out for a corner. Bertrand this time crosses centrally but again it's cleared.

Smallbone wins a free-kick

Promising area too, having snuck the ball through the legs of Douglas Luiz. Ward-Prowse delivers from wide right and it's met by the head of Tyrone Mings. Half chance for Saints.

We're under way

Formalities complete and the visitors get us up and running. Jack Grealish is first on the assault, before Stuart Armstrong gets a sniff of a chance up the other end. 

Warms up complete...

We're ready for kick-off here at St Mary's!  

hopefully he can play without being too nervous, and show what he can do. he must stick to the plan and i think, if he does, he will have a good game today.

ralph hasenhüttl

on the inclusion of will smallbone

Premier League debut incoming...

Will Smallbone makes his full Premier League bow against Aston Villa today, accompanying captain Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in midfield! 👏

SAINTS XI CONFIRMED 🚨

Starting XI: McCarthy (GK), Stephens, Bednarek, Ward-Prowse, Bertrand, Højbjerg (c), Smallbone, Djenepo, Armstrong, Ings, Long.

Get clued up 🤓

It’s back to back home games for Southampton as we take on Aston Villa at St Mary's. Get ready for the game with our Match Pack, in association with eToro...

Today's stage...

The calm before the matchday storm! 🌪

📍 St Mary's Stadium

Southampton's players check in at St Mary's ahead of today's Premier League action.

South coast clubs collide 🤜🤛

Southampton's Under-23s played AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium last night. Check out highlights from the game...

In every position we have two players and there are a few young guys who are pushing to get a chance. so the atmosphere is good.

ralph hasenhüttl

on the shape of his squad

Hasenhüttl assesses Villa test 🗣

The manager looks ahead to today's Premier League visit of Aston Villa...

Sneak peak inside today's dressing room 👀

Who would you have in your starting XI today, Saints fans? 

This week's prep 💪

Take a look through this week's preparation from Staplewood Campus...

MATCHDAY 😍

Welcome to another St Mary's matchday! Today Saints host Aston Villa, having just fallen short against Burnley a week prior. The visitors come into the tie off the back of a 3-2 loss to Spurs, where Son scored a last gasp winner. We'll have all the build up to kick-off, team news, and live in-game updates. Stay tuned...