Southampton vs Aston Villa match thread

[N'ZMAV]

that was a tough first half - they're a good side.

Hopefully we settle the game down a bit in the second half. It was all a bit too rushed at times.

[not3bad]

Opposite of Burnley game, largely been second best but ahead.

Keep them out and nick a goal. Classic away performance.

[paul_e]

Fairly well battered this half but could have had 3 in 5 minutes. I love this team.

Disagree with that, they've battled in midfield and had a fair bit of the ball but we've mostly let them play in front of us and Martinez hasn't had anything to do. Looked a bit 'rope a dope' to me, let them run themselves out and then turned it up a notch and bossed the last 10minutes of the half and got our goal.

[brontebilly]

Barkley is playing then.

Thought the same! We carried him up to then.

Has been a very difficult half. Full backs under pressure and Romeo bullying our midfield.

But with Watkins and Jack we always have a chance. More Jack magic really and we somehow are ahead at the break.

Looks like we might need earlyish changes today.

[Flamingo Lane]

What a header that was.  I thought Barkley had done well to just get his head to the cross, and thought the ball had then just drifted wide.  Only when I saw his reaction did I realise he'd scored!

[DB]

Good work from Matty T and ball out to Jack for the goal.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Measured.Kick on second half.

[Edvard Remberg]

Yesssssss

Barkleys first touch ? Lol

Are we good?

Yesssss

Haha this was supposed to be to Risso
But we are also good,  right?

[SoccerHQ]

that was a tough first half - they're a good side.

Hopefully we settle the game down a bit in the second half. It was all a bit too rushed at times.

They usually drop off around hour mark, we saw that at VP. Just had to be solid start of second and we should get some good counter attack chances later on in the game.

Need that 2 goal margin I think after what happened on Wednesday.

[Rigadon]

I don't think we've been outplayed.  2 good sides, one at home, sparring. 

[tomd2103]

I may have claret and blue tinted glasses on, but I have no idea what those two commentators are on about.  Alan Smith said w "had been defending for our lives" and Barkley's goal was "smash and grab" despite Watkins having a good chance just before that.

Yes, we haven't been as fluent as we have in other games, but we are away against a decent side and would expect to be under a bit of pressure at times.  We looked shaky in the opening stages, but thought we began looking a bit more comfortable as the half went on.  The commentary has been ridiculous. 

[Mister E]

Trez early sub would be good

[OzVilla]

Thought we laboured through a lot of that but we’ve always got a goal in us. Good goals too.

[jcsutv]

On the pre-match thread the guys called how they would start strong. Beautiful beautiful goal! According to Roy...

[baddowvillans]

Carragher can't see the touch before the hand but to me hit hits his midriff and Cash is trying to get his arm away.  Still I would have been unhappy if we didn't get that.