Aston Villa kept their first clean sheet of the season as they defeated Southampton 1-0 at home.
In fact, neither team had kept a clean sheet this season, implying that goals would be scored, but this game was far from a feast of attacking football.
After a fairly dull start, Villa eventually livened things up by taking the lead just before halftime.
Gavin Bazunu made a brilliant save to tip an Ollie Watkins header over the bar, but Jacob Ramsey was first to the rebound and finished.
Philippe Coutinho showed his quality and tried to force the issue for Villa in attack during a poor first half, and it was his cross that led to Watkins’ initial header.
The game returned to its early lull in the second half, and while it was not the most entertaining of spectacles, Villa will be pleased with the three points.
“This is a significant victory.” “It wasn’t pretty or stylish, but we knew we had to do it pragmatically with where we were in the league,” Villans manager Steven Gerrard said after the game.
“I’m extremely proud of the boys’ effort, application, and dedication. We performed better than the previous time. Football requires grinding, fighting, and commitment, and we worked hard today.
“We’ll improve in terms of style and possession, but tonight was all about the points.”
Did you know that?
Aston Villa have won three of their last four Premier League games against Southampton (L1), after winning only one of their previous 11 meetings with the Saints (W1 D3 L7).
Only Everton and Watford have lost more Premier League games than Southampton in 2022. (14).
Southampton has conceded in 13 consecutive Premier League games, the longest streak of any current team. The Saints have now kept just three clean sheets in their last 34 league games.
Since a 4-2 win at Chelsea on New Year’s Day in 2002, Southampton have won none of their last 104 away Premier League matches when trailing at half-time (D18 L86).
Only Ollie Watkins (12) and Danny Ings (8) have scored more Premier League goals for Aston Villa since the start of last season than Jacob Ramsey (7).
Ashley Young (37 years, 69 days) became Aston Villa’s second oldest outfield player to start in the Premier League, trailing only Robert Pires in February 2011 against Blackburn (37 years, 120 days).
Ralph Hasenhuttl made Juan Larios the ninth teenager to make his Premier League debut (also Kayne Ramsey, Callum Slattery, Caleb Watts, Alexandre Jankewitz, Allan Tchaptchet, Tino Livramento, Romeo Lavia, and Samuel Edozie). Only Manchester United have given more teenagers Premier League debuts (10) than Southampton since his debut in December 2018. (9).