Saints Marching
Fansided

Aston Villa vs Southampton: Premier League – Player Ratings

By Erik Franzo

Southampton's English striker Danny Ings (3L) celebrates scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Southampton at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on November 1, 2020. (Photo by Nick Potts / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NICK POTTS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton's English striker Danny Ings (3L) celebrates scoring their fourth goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Southampton at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on November 1, 2020. (Photo by Nick Potts / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NICK POTTS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
Southampton’s English striker Danny Ings (C) (Photo by GARETH COPLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton’s English striker Danny Ings (C) (Photo by GARETH COPLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Southampton players were in full celebration as James Ward-Prowse captained his side to a 4-3 win over Aston Villa.

Ralph Hasenhuttl made the tough call to bench Nathan Redmond following his labored performance against Everton.  Redmond’s confidence is clearly not where it needs to be and Hasenhuttl made the decision to start Theo Walcott in his place.  Over the next few weeks it will be interesting to see how the manager rotates the attacking-midfielders with Moussa Djenepo returning to the bench and Nathan Tella waiting in the wings.

Jannik Vestergaard’s header from a James Ward-Prowse set piece was a thing of beauty to open scoring.  The Danish centre-back is in top form and now has two goals in three matches to compliment his defensive form.  The timing of Vestergaard’s run aligned perfectly with Ward-Prowe’s accurate ball and the 1-0 lead was much deserved.

Ward-Prowse picked up two more opportunities from direct free-kicks in the first half and dispatched them both in the back of the net.  The first was from near perfect range, and the second being too close for men not of JWP’s quality.  The birthday boy would head into the locker room at half time with 2 goals and an assist to his name!

Danny Ings made it 4-0, but it was sharp downhill slide from there.  Villa were much better in the second half, forcing Alex McCarthy into a number of tough saves, but Southampton losing three starters to injury will overtake the three goals conceded as the negative takeaway from the match.

The 4-3 result can be very misleading, with the final two Aston Villa goals coming when the game was already lost.  The 3rd goal literally coming on the last kick of the game.  Jack Stephens did not do much to impress fans late, but we cannot imagine how the team felt losing Ryan Bertrand and Ings late to injuries.

Three points and sitting third in the Premier League table is what matters, although fans will be awaiting the news of their stars, especially Danny Ings.  While we anxiously stand by, here at the player ratings for the Saints in their win over Aston Villa.