PREMIER LEAGUE
Gerrard’s side built on their impressive comeback against Manchester City with three points to climb to 13th. The manager made two changes to the team which held Manchester City last time out.
Ashley Young, who came on for injured Matty Cash against City, started and Philippe Coutinho was restored to the midfield after two games as sub.
Saints made a single change from their loss at Wolves with Moussa Djenepo coming in for Joe Aribo. They made the beter start as
Djenepo left Lucas Digne trailing on the touchline and won a corner.
Mohamed Elyounoussi got to James Ward-Prowse’s delivery but could not keep his
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Saints remained the more dangerous side and Ezri Konsa had to make a vital sliding clearance to cut out Elyounoussi’s cross to Che Adams.
Romain Perraud also had a sight of goal from a long throw which wasn’t cleared but he produced an embarrassing air-shot in the box.
Villa eventually grew into the contest as Coutinho tricked his way into space on the edge of the box and thumped a shot over.
Saved
The Brazilian went even closer with a back-post header which Saints’ Irish keeper Gavin Bazunu saved at his near post.
Bazunu was called into action moments later to palm an Ollie Watkins header on to the bar after Coutinho’s cross.
And Ramsey was on hand to bury the follow up in the 41st minute with a left-foot finish which survived a VAR check for offside for his first of the season.
It could have been even worse for the visitors as Bailey flashed a low shot across goal and Coutinho had a free-kick blocked by the wall.
Despite using all his five subs in the second half, Ralf Hasenhuttl’s side failed to seriously trouble Martinez who kept his first clean sheet of the season.