Southampton score four in a box office thriller.
‘It’s a game of two halves’ is an often-used football cliché. It means however easy you had it in the first half don’t expect a coast in the second.
It’s a lesson that Southampton would do well to learn. Led by James Ward-Prowse, the Saints displayed pinpoint accuracy to lead by three at the break.
45 minutes later and the comfy cushion had almost evaporated. Despite netting in the second half, SFC struggled to cut through Villa and often looked second best.
The only thing more concerning than the late collapse is a potential injury suffered by an integral part of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side.
That having been said here are the three key moments that impacted the course of Aston Villa 3 Southampton 4.