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

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

By Marc Walker | Nov 1, 2020

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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Southampton’s Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (L) reacts (Photo by GARETH COPLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Injuries may have caused a headache

Saints had to take each of Danny Ings, Jan Bednarek and Ryan Bertrand off with various injury problems.

All three of them are key players in their own right and play a specific role in the detailed setup that Ralph Hasenhuttl has created, so their potential absence against Newcastle on Friday may prove problematic.

It remains to be seen who will come in to replace them but those incoming will certainly need time to learn the roles that they take up.

Theo Walcott or Shane Long may come into attack alongside Che Adams but are obviously completely different players to Ings, whilst Jack Stephens will have to get up to speed quickly to slot in alongside Jannik Vestergaard in defence.

Youngster Jake Vokins is the only other left-back in the senior squad and is very inexperienced but could be forced to take Bertrand’s place if the 30-year-old is kept out.

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