In a game that many had seen as the ideal opportunity to build on a solid performance at home, it was not to be Aston Villa’s day as Southampton came from a goal down to put the boot into the Birmingham’s hopes of the first back-to-back victories since March 2011.
The game lacked any kind of rhythm as neither team started brightly, both teams making sloppy passes and otherwise being unimpressive. Whilst Villa were able to go into the second half with a one goal lead courtesy of a predatory goal from Darren Bent, it was far from the solid platform with which the Birmingham club could build on.
Come the second half, it was Southampton who appeared the stronger, taking just over fifteen minutes for Ricky Lambert to level the scores. From there, Villa’s shaky confidence led to a somewhat familiar panic where Southampton were able to capitalise. Nathaniel Clyne took the lead for Southampton following an interchange between Ricky Lambert and Gaston Ramirez, his goal coming shortly after an Adam Lallana volley went slightly over in what looked like an identical repeat of the opportunity with which Villa right back Matthew Lowton bagged his debut goal.
Villa must learn from mistakes to prevent similar collapses
With Southampton up, the south coast club showed little sign of letting up with a renewed confidence rising as Villa’s self-belief crumbled. Jason Puncheon made it second time lucky bagging a goal shortly after his previous chance had flashed wide. At that point, it was Southampton in the driving seat, and Lambert’s Lions looking increasingly flustered. Villa managed a few half-chances shortly after, but nothing that looked to affect the home team’s push to secure their first points.
The final nail in the coffin of Villa’s south coast adventure came when a needless penalty was conceded by Brad Guzan, bringing down Emmanuel Mayuka in the last minute. Needless to say it was Southampton’s Lambert who stepped up to make it four, piling misery on his namesake Villa manager.
Turvey’s Thought
If there is anything to be realised from this game, it is the fact that Villa’s confidence is currently a house of cards. Whilst many fans were delighted with the Swansea performance – with good reason – much more needs to be done in order to ensure that a similar collapse doesn’t occur again. As I stated before the game, this match promised a need for determination, control, and confidence. Sadly for Villa, the confidence built up from the Swansea game was sapped as the game slipped away bit by bit, from an initial winning perspective, to a single point, to a four – one loss.
The team must pick themselves up as a challenging cup match vs Manchester City lies in wait for Villa, with few predicting much happiness for the club from B6. However, such a situation, free as it is from expectation may, ironically, offer more of an opportunity to perform. This isn’t to suggest that the City game will offer a guaranteed win, but rather freedom from expectation may be just what Lambert’s team need after such a slip-up.
What do you think though? Are there lessons that you feel can be learned by the team after today’s loss? Or do you think we should continue as is? Ladies and gentlemen, it’s over to you.
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