SOU vs AVL
Match Centre

momentum is key but every team goes through that difficult spell during a season. it is important not to get disheartened by it. hopefully the goals will come and we will get back up the table."

james ward-prowse

southampton captain

FULL TIME: Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa

That's a really tough one to take. Saints pushed and pushed for a goal and thought they'd found it right at the end, only for Danny Ings to be flagged offside after following up Ché Adams's parried shot. In the end Ross Barkley's first-half header was enough to secure victory for Villa, while Saints' injury problems worsen with Ibrahima Diallo and Theo Walcott both forced off in the second half.

VAR Decision: Goal awarded for Southampton [Danny Ings] was cancelled

The goal is chalked off. That sums up Saints' luck tonight.

GOALSCORER 9 Danny Ings

Is it going to count?

Ings has the ball in the net, but VAR is having a good look, after the assistant referee flagged offside...

Djenepo gets into the box...

The winger gets away from Targett, but his cross is blocked by Mings, before his follow-up is sent over the bar.

6️⃣ added minutes...

Still plenty of time!

Third and final change...

It's a Premier League debut for Alex Jankewitz, who is on for the closing stages, replacing Romeu in midfield.

It just won't go in 😩

A flurry of chances come and go for Saints, as Redmond sees a driven shot deflected over, before Bednarek meets Ward-Prowse's corner to force a brilliant point-blank save from Martinez. Still the ball is alive in the box, but Adams and Stephens are both denied by last-ditch blocks. So unlucky!

Ings tests Martinez

Saints' top scorer hasn't had a lot to feed off so far, but he tries his luck from long range with a shot that's comfortably dealt with by the keeper.

Armstrong shoots wide

Armstrong spreads the play to Djenepo, then darts inside, as Djenepo finds Redmond, who sets up the Scot to shoot. He looks to curl one into the corner from the edge of the box, but it's a yard or two wide.

Martinez denies Adams!

That was Saints' best chance of the second half - possibly the whole game. Ings slides a clever pass into Adams in the box, who toe-pokes the ball goalwards, making good contact, but Martinez makes a fine save and Villa smuggle the ball behind for a corner.

Formation update...

It's still the usual 4-2-2-2 for Saints. Djenepo is at right-back, with Ward-Prowse partnering Romeu in central midfield. Redmond is on the right and Armstrong on the left, with Ings and Adams up front.

Southampton substitution: Ché Adams replaces Theo Walcott

A second enforced change in quick succession for Saints, as Walcott hobbles off.

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Another injury?

Now it's Walcott who's down and looking in some discomfort. It looks like he's pulled a muscle.

Southampton substitution: Moussa Djenepo replaces Ibrahima Diallo

The Frenchman can't continue. It's Djenepo who replaces him - we'll keep an eye on how Saints shape up after this.

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Diallo goes down...

The midfielder is receiving treatment and it doesn't look good. Could this be another injury and an enforced change for Saints?

Ward-Prowse hits the wall

That was a free-kick in a promising position for the skipper, but he shoots into the wall. Still no way through, but an encouraging start to the second period for Saints.

ANOTHER shot blocked

It's a great surge down the left by Bertrand, who perfectly picks out Redmond, but the winger's first-time shot hits Mings, and Villa survive another scare.

Early pressure from Saints

The hosts have started on the front foot at the start of this second period. Diallo sees a shot deflected behind, before Ings has one blocked from the resulting corner.

The second half is under way...

No changes for either side at the break. Keep pushing, Saints!

HALF-TIME: Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa

Saints can count themselves unlucky to trail at the interval. The hosts looked certain to be awarded a penalty when Stuart Armstrong's shot struck Matty Cash's outstretched arm, but VAR let the defender off the hook, ruling the ball hit his thigh first. Saints continued to push for an opener, but instead it was Villa who made the breakthrough, as Ross Barkley headed home Jack Grealish's cross.

1️⃣ added minute...

We're into first-half stoppage time.

Romeu blazes over

More positive approach play from the hosts, with Armstrong again involved. This time he tees up Romeu, but the ensuing shot is still rising now.

Bertrand shoots wide

Saints continue to take the game to Villa, as Romeu works his way towards the penalty area and finds Armstrong on the left, whose lay-off is struck just wide by Bertrand from 20 yards. More positive signs, but still no breakthrough.

Saints on the front foot

It's an unfamiliar role for Ward-Prowse tonight, but the skipper proves he can still be influential by crossing dangerously from the right towards Ings, forcing Villa to divert the ball behind for a corner. Saints have definitely shaded the first quarter here.

Problems listening in?

Don't forget you can get full commentary on all the action by following this link: https://sfcne.ws/VillaComms

Not given!

Somehow Cash escapes punishment, and Villa survive an early scare.

A huge penalty appeal...

Brilliant skill from Ings in the box sets up Armstrong, whose shot strikes Cash's outstretched arm. VAR is looking at it...

Ward-Prowse at right-back...

Some kidology from the boss? It seems it will be the skipper, James Ward-Prowse, operating at right-back, where he will be directly up against Villa talisman Jack Grealish.

We're up and running!

The action is under way. Come on you Saints!

We're ready to go!

Warm-ups are complete and kick-off is just moments away at St Mary's!

with his experience and calmness on the ball, he can help us in the centre of midfield to have a better organisation."

ralph hasenhüttl

on oriol romeu

Happy memories against Villa! 💭

It was our last win in front of a packed St Mary's... who was there for this victory over tonight's opponents last February? 

Don't miss out on tonight's match commentary! 🎙

You can tune into all the action by listening here: https://sfcne.ws/VillaComms

A new role for this guy!

Ibrahima Diallo switches to right-back tonight, with Oriol Romeu partnering James Ward-Prowse in the midfield engine room. Ryan Bertrand is back from suspension to slot in at left-back.

3️⃣ changes for Saints!

The teams are in! Ralph Hasenhüttl brings Ryan Bertrand, Oriol Romeu and Nathan Redmond into the starting line-up as the boss makes three changes from the midweek defeat to Arsenal.

SAINTS TEAM CONFIRMED 😇

Starting XI: McCarthy, Diallo, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Armstrong, Redmond, Walcott, Ings.

Subs: Forster, Ramsay, Valery, Watts, Jankewitz, Djenepo, Adams, Long, Nlundulu.

🔜 Team news...

Stay with us for all the team news - we'll reveal both line-ups at 7pm GMT! ⏳

it's always difficult for a team when you can focus on grealish and that's it. but now iT's noT so easy anymore, because you have traore, you have watkins, you have barkley. this makes it more difficult to defend against them."

ralph hasenhüttl 

on aston villa's improvement

What a first half at Villa Park!

Remember the reverse fixture in November? Saints flew out of the blocks, with James Ward-Prowse producing a virtuoso display with the dead ball on his birthday 🎉 

Get clued up 🤓

Get up to speed on everything you need to know about tonight's game with our Match Pack, featuring all the key facts and stats!

Ori's back 🤩

Ralph Hasenhüttl has three players available again after injury and suspension, with Oriol Romeu, Moussa Djenepo and Ryan Bertrand all back in the fold. Click here for a full team news update.

THERE ARE STILL A FEW GUYS not AVAILABLE, BUT it's getting a little bit better, which is good, because we have a lot of games coming up."

ralph hasenhüttl

on saints' injury problems

Hear from the boss! 🎙

We caught up with Ralph Hasenhüttl to preview this evening's game and get an update on all the latest injury news from the camp.

BACK UNDER THE LIGHTS! 💡

It's matchday at St Mary's for the fourth game in a row! After facing Shrewsbury and Arsenal (twice) in the last 12 days, Southampton are back on home turf again, this time against Aston Villa in the Premier League. Both teams are level on 29 points, while Saints ran out 4-3 winners at Villa Park in November. Stay with us for all the build-up, team news, regular match updates and live commentary!