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John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings as trio impress in 1-0 win over Southampton
Aston Villa secured successive Premier League wins for the first time since September after beating Southampton 1-0 at Villa Park.
Jhon Duran opened the scoring in the first half before Villa managed to see out their seventh league win of the season and record their second clean sheet. Unai Emery’s side ended their eight-match winless run on Wednesday night by beating Brentford 3-1 in front of home fans and have now climbed into the top five after today's victory.
Villa's only defeat in their past 13 home league matches came against Arsenal in August. They are also unbeaten in all 11 Premier League fixtures against promoted sides under Emery, winning 10 and drawing two.
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After Southampton left-back Ryan Manning went close early on, former Villa forward Cameron Archer had a great chance to put the visitors in front, but Ezri Konsa made a terrific block to deny him.
Duran was presented with his first chance of the match in the 23rd minute when Saints goalkeeper Joe Lumley played the ball out from the back, before it was intercepted by Boubacar Kamara, allowing Duran to fire at goal, but he and then John McGinn were both denied from close range.
Shortly after, Duran put Villa in front after stealing the ball from Taylor Harwood-Bellis and then finishing past Lumley.
Villa suffered an injury blow just before the hour mark as Leon Bailey came off with what looked like a muscle problem. Jaden Philogene was one of four changes at that point in the game as Duran, Ian Maatsen and Tielemans were replaced by Ollie Watkins, Lucas Digne and Ross Barkley.
Villa will now turn their attention to their sixth Champions League fixture of the league phase against RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena on Tuesday (8pm kick-off) in Germany.
Player ratings
Emi Martinez
Martinez didn't have a save to make in the first half despite Southampton looking dangerous in the final third. He was barely worked in the second period either. 7
Ezri Konsa
Konsa moved across to right-back as Diego Carlos came back into the side in place of Cash. He made a vital block to deny Archer in the 17th minute and kept a lid on Adam Armstrong when he Southampton forward off the left side. 8
Diego Carlos
Carlos didn't feature in Villa's last two league games against Chelsea and Brentford as he made his first start since the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace this afternoon. 7
Pau Torres
Despite Mings' excellent display against the Bees, Torres came back into the side. He misplaced only three of the 44 passes he attempted. 7
Ian Maatsen
Maatsen made his second league start of the season. He put in a couple of excellent crosses into the box in the first half, but there were no takers. He's a real threat in transitions and loves to break forward to take up the space further forward. He competed well against Southampton's main creator Tyler Dibling. 7
Boubacar Kamara
Kamara played an important role in the middle of the park, nipping in to dispossessing his opponents when Southampton were looking to play through the lines. He made a strong block to deny Archer in the 66th minute as the striker look to round off a counter-attack. 8*
Youri Tielemans
Tielemans remains only one of two outfield players who have started all of Villa's Premier League and Champions League games this season. He gave the ball away early on which led to Archer's chance to put Southampton in front, but Konsa made an excellent block. 6
Leon Bailey
Bailey was looking sharp today and has been growing in confidence in the past fortnight after a difficult start to the campaign. His injury comes as a blow for Villa, who lack a like-for-like replacement. 6
John McGinn
The captain made Villa's first chance of the game when he collected a short corner and swept the ball across the face of goal, but Morgan Rogers couldn't get enough on his flick to send it goalwards. McGinn's passing selection was strong and he helped Villa retain possession closer to the striker once they regained it from Southampton. Probably his best showing of the season. 8
Morgan Rogers
After Rogers bagged the opener against Brentford in midweek, he kept his place in the side despite Emery making alterations to the side with lots of games coming up. He showed his speed and power in the first half, gliding past Southampton markers with the ball. He lacked care with the ball in periods of the second period. 6
Jhon Duran
The 20-year-old made his first league start of the season this afternoon. He bagged in the 22nd minute and was hungry for another just moments later, but he was tackled by Harwood-Bellis. Duran was replaced on the hour mark for Watkins. 7
SUBS
Ollie Watkins (for Duran, 60'): Watkins stretched the Southampton backline when he came. It suited him as the game opened up in the final 20 minutes or so. 6
Lucas Digne (for Maatsen, 60'): Digne defended well against Dibling, winning two ground duels. Down the other end he created two chances in the 30 minutes he played. 6
Ross Barkley (for Tielemans, 60'): Barkley had a few chances to double Villa's lead and was unlucky not to score. 6
Jaden Philogene (for Bailey, 60'): He replaced the injured Bailey and could get a run in the side depending on what Emery's plan is in the coming games. Philogene retained the ball well for the most part late on. 6
Subs not used: Olsen, Cash, Mings, Onana, Buendia.
GOALS
Aston Villa: Duran (24')
Southampton: N/A
