Brilliant Barkley breaks hearts of Saints
ASTON VILLA climbed up to eighth in the table after a narrow victory at Southampton.
Ross Barkley scored the only goal of the game at St Mary’s last night as Dean Smith’s side pushed back into the top half of the table.
The defeat for Saints leaves them in 11th place and three points behind Villa.
Ryan Bertrand returned to the Southampton line-up for the clash in one of three changes made by manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Bertrand had missed his side’s Premier League game against
Arsenal on Tuesday through suspension, but took his place in the starting XI.
Oriol Romeu and Nathan Redmond were also included, with Jake Vokins, Yan Valery and Che Adams dropped to the bench.
Smith made no changes to the Aston Villa side which narrowly lost 3-2 to Burnley on Wednesday night.
Despite Southampton dominating the first half, having eight shots albeit without forcing a save from Emiliano Martinez, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock.
In the 41st minute, Jack Grealish cleverly picked out Barkley with a first-time cross, and the 27-year-old headed past goalkeeper Alex McCarthy from close range.
It was Barkley’s fourth goal of the season and his first since his side’s 1-0 win over Leeds on October 18.
Southampton were forcing the initiative and dominating the ball, with Villa content to hold onto their narrow lead.
Martinez pulled off a brilliant save to deny Saints striker Danny Ings’ header five minutes from time. The rebound fell to Che Adams and then Jack Stephens, but the Villa defence managed to get blocks in on both efforts.
Southampton continued to press into six minutes of stoppage time.
Ings had a late goal chalked off for offside.
But Hasenhuttl’s side slumped to successive Premier League defeats at home.