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Aston Villa vs Southampton: A tactical and statistical review of Saints’ win

ByMarc Walker|
Southampton's English midfielder James Ward-Prowse (L) celebrates after scoring their third 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 Gareth Copley / 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 GARETH COPLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton's English midfielder James Ward-Prowse (L) celebrates after scoring their third 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 Gareth Copley / 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 GARETH COPLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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The perfect day of perfect days for JWP

A lesson for teams who play Saints for the rest of the season – do NOT give James Ward-Prowse a free-kick around the penalty area.

Three inch-perfect set-piece executions from the Saints captain in the first-half here basically put the game to bed on what became an extraordinary 26th birthday for him:

  • Two superb goals from direct free-kicks and an assist from another
  • The first PL player to score two free-kicks in a first-half
  • Broke Matt Le Tissier’s record for direct free-kicks scored in the PL
  • Scored Saints’ 1000th PL goal

Let’s just forget that early yellow card shall we?