GOING SOUTH
Aston Villa 1 Southampton 0: Saints now EIGHT POINTS adrift at bottom of Prem as Emery’s side close gap on Man City
Aston Villa are now fifth in the Premier League table
ASTON VILLA battered Southampton's defence as relentlessly as Storm Darragh - but only had Jhon Duran's first goal since September to show for all their huffing and puffing.
The big Colombian celebrated his first Premier League start of the season with a first-half winner.
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But Ollie Watkins missed a hat-trick of chances and goalkeeper Joe Lumley blocked a stoppage-time effort from John McGinn with his legs to defy Unai Emery's men.
Villa will just be pleased to head for the warmth of the home dressing room with three points bagged ahead of their Champions League trip to RB Leipzig as they climbed to fifth.
But Russell Martin's toothless Saints didn't manage one shot on target which is why they remain rooted to the foot of the table.
We'll all miss Southampton when they eventually return to the Championship - for comedy value alone.
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Before Saints fans get their hackles up, you can't really argue that's harsh when your travelling support are singing: 'How s**t must you be, it's only 1-0?' after half an hour!
There is no such thing as a dull game when Martin's Kamikaze defenders are in town.
Saints had actually weathered the anticipated early Villa storm and were beginning to get a toehold in the game.
Ryan Manning gave the home fans a scare after nine minutes with a low shot which clipped the inside of Diego Carlos's boot and flew just wide, to Emi Martinez's relief.
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Then Ezri Konsa had to hurl himself into a brilliant blocking tackle to deny Cameron Archer, who had pulled the trigger from 12 yards after some sloppy defending from Villa.
But there were already tell-tale signs that Saints defence was getting bored with such a steady start.
Brilliant moment Jack Grealish joins Aston Villa fans in Bruges pub on FaceTime after being dropped from Man City squad
They almost blundered trying to play the ball out from the back when Morgan Rogers pounced only to have his shot deflected for a corner by Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Two minutes later Rogers played Duran through on goal as the Saints defence was caught napping.
However a brilliantly-timed diving save from Lumley thwarted the Colombian battering ram as he managed to whip the ball off the striker's toes.
But the fun really began midway through the first half when Nathan Wood played a passback to Lumley, who then tried to play to a fellow Saint….. eight yards from his own goal-line!
Boubacar Kamara had sniffed out the opportunity, intercepted and the ball broke to McGinn whose shot was desperately blocked.
But Saints' stay of execution only lasted for another 60 seconds as they imploded in the 24th minute.
Duran with the winner
They actually had Villa pinned back with an aggressive high press.
When Konsa played in Carlos there was no other option available to the Spaniard other than to play a long hopeful pass into the inside right channel.
Then let Duran do the rest!
The Colombian kid must be an absolute nightmare to play against.
Wood looked favourite to clear the ball until the young battering ram eased him off it.
Harwood-Bellis took over but Duran cleverly picked his pocket, nicking the ball off his toes before bursting clear.
Aston Villa could capitalise
He rag-dolled Wood as he attempted to recover then calmly clipped the ball beyond the onrushing Lumley who had sprinted to the edge of his box to try and avert the danger.
However there was no stopping Duran from bagging his fifth Premier League goal of the season and his first since he netted against Wolves on September 21.
But try as they might, Villa couldn't capitalise on that lead.
Rogers came close with a driving run and low cross which flew across the face of Saints goal but there were no takers from one yard out.
Duran had another shot blocked by Wood but at half-time Villa's lead remained a slender one.
However they were up against a team who had enjoyed more of the pressure - Saints had 52.10 per cent of the first-half play - yet hadn't managed a single shot on target.
Martin tried to beef up his attack by sending on Joe Aribo for James Bree at the break.
And Konsa did well to head a wicked Kyle Walker-Peters cross over his own bar under pressure from Adam Armstrong.
But Emery saw Martin's substitution and raised the stakes by sending on FOUR subs before the hour.
Lucas Digne, Jaden Philogene, Ross Barkley and Watkins replaced Ian Maatsen, Leon Bailey, Youri Tielemans and Duran.
But the pattern of the game never changed with Villa continually knocking on the door but Saints somehow managing to keep it locked for once.
Watkins had a shot blocked before Pau Torres headed over from the resulting corner.
Southampton created threats
Saints had a rare sight on goal when Tyler Dibling burst clear and picked out Archer but Kamara - who was superb throughout - got back to block.
Eighteen-year-old sub Sam Amo-Ameyaw then curled over a teasing cross which threatened to creep in at the back post until Martinez dived to clutch it.
That was as close as Saints got to a shot on target.
Meanwhile, Villa continued to squander good chances.
Watkins set up Barkley six-yards out but Wood got back to brilliantly block.
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The Saints defender then managed to clear a Watkins effort off the line before he punched the air defiantly after blocking the England striker, who was sent clear by Rogers.
All Martin needs is another four defenders like Wood!
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