Saints Marching
Fansided

Aston Villa 1-3 Southampton: Premier League – Three Key Saints Players

By Alastair Case

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Jack Stephens of Southampton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Southampton FC at Villa Park on December 21, 2019 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Jack Stephens of Southampton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Southampton FC at Villa Park on December 21, 2019 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 21: Danny Ings of Southampton scores his team’s third goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Southampton FC at Villa Park on December 21, 2019 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 21: Danny Ings of Southampton scores his team’s third goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Southampton FC at Villa Park on December 21, 2019 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

Danny Ings

Where else can you start but with the joint second highest scorer in the league (at the time of writing). As with so many games this season, Ings set the tone from the opening whistle and looked to cause trouble in the channels with his direct running. With Shane Long creating space with his pace, Ings did well to capitalise on the rebound from his strike partner’s shot for the opener.

He then showed characteristic opportunism to punish some loose play from Nakamba to complete his double. The skilfully taken finish brought his tally to 11 for the season, with only the evergreen Jamie Vardy ahead of him in the charts. There is so much to admire about the way Ings conducts himself on and off the pitch; indeed there can be little doubt that the striker is up there with Southampton’s best permanent signings in recent history.

If Southampton escape the drop, they will be indebted to their local hero in a manner reminiscent of the Le Tissier days. With a visit to Stamford Bridge looming on the horizon, the Southampton faithful will be desperate for Ings to continue his good form and in doing so, enable the unlikeliest of wins.