Southampton 1 - Aston Villa 1: Lescott lifts strugglers as Romeu equalises to share spoils

ROCK-BOTTOM Aston Villa somehow survived a barrage from Saints to secure only their second Premier League point since August.

 

Remi Garde’s side defied the odds after Joleon Lescott edged them in front, but were helped by a string of shocking missed chances by Ronald Koeman’s outfit, who themselves avoided four straight defeats thanks to sub Oriol Romeu’s leveller

With Ciaran Clark serving a suspension and Micah Richards out with a knee problem, Jores Okore stepped into the Villa back four for his first league appearance since Villa’s 6-1 drubbing at St Mary’s at the end of last season alongside the recalled Lescott.

 

But Saints sensed they could atone for the midweek beating by Liverpool, and began at full throttle with Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle both going close in the early stages.

It continued to be backs-to-the-wall stuff for the Premier League’s bottom club, with Sadio Mane the next to try his luck with a volley that flew well over Brad Guzan’s bar.

Villa earned a rare corner from a breakaway attack and the ball found its way to the far post where the unmarked Lescott side-footed home for his first Villa goal. Saints’ persistence finally paid off on 73 minutes when James Ward-Prowse’s inswinging corner to the far post was forced over the line by Romeu.

 

 

Saints manager Ronald Koeman said: “We had four big opportunities in the first 20 minutes and you have to score because then it makes it easier.

“When you have those good chances and not one on target I don’t understand.”

Villa boss Remi Garde said: “It was a very important point. We suffered a lot because we were under pressure with their pace and power.”

MAN OF THE MATCH: JORDAN VERETOUT – The midfielder battled tirelessly to keep Villa in contention against the odds, and set up his side’s goal.

SOUTHAMPTON: Stekelenburg, Cedric, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Wanyama (Romeu 63), Mane (Long 83), S Davis, Tadic (Juanmi 63), Pelle 5

ASTON VILLA: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna (Richardson 76), Sanchez (Agbonlahor 90), Gana-Gueye, Veretout, Sinclair, Gestede (Westwood 75), Ayew.

Referee: A Taylor