After experiencing very different fates during the week, Aston Villa and bottom of the Premier League Southampton will meet at Villa Park on Saturday.

While Villa eventually ended their winning streak at the expense of Brentford, Saints suffered a home defeat to Chelsea and are firmly rooted the relegation zone.

Game preview

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Four days after Aston Villa slipped into the bottom half of the Premier League table as leaders Chelsea They recklessly extended their wait for victoryThe club from Birmingham ended its dismal record.

3-1 defeat to Brentford on Wednesday eased the pressure on a team that had both fallen behind in the table in Europe and domestically.

The new England international has overcome his personal low in form Morgan Rogers came well, giving the Villans the lead midway through the first half Ollie Watkins converted a penalty against his old club and Matty Cash effectively secured the points.

As a result, Unai EmeryManchester United’s men moved up to seventh place, extending their unbeaten run to six Premier League home games ahead of another top-flight game at Villa Park.

Prior to Southampton’s arrival in the West Midlands, Villa were unbeaten in all 11 league games against newly promoted sides since Emery took over, winning five of six games at home under their Basque boss.

They have also come out on top in each of the clubs’ last three meetings – without conceding a single goal – and the Saints’ recent form suggests that trend could continue.

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Southampton drifts away at the foot the table More than a third of their comeback season has already passed, having picked up just one point since the last international break.

A 1-0 home win against Everton is still Saints’ only win of the season in the Premier League Dismal defensive record is only better than its competitors Wolverhampton Wanderers.

They have scored 30 goals this season, more than two per game a 5-1 win against Chelsea in the middle of the week.

Aside from that, Russell MartinEngland’s men have scored the fewest goals of any team in England’s top flight; That puts them seven points behind 17th-placed Crystal Palace in the fight for survival.

Given tough games against top-six contenders Villa and Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the EFL Cup quarter-final against Liverpool later this month, Martin could hold on to his job in the run-up to Christmas.

Ahead of this weekend’s trip, Southampton are winless in 14 away games in the Premier League and have lost 11 times since February 2023. In fact, no team has collected fewer points away from home this season.

Aston Villa Premier League form:

Aston Villa form (all competitions):

Southampton Premier League form:

Southampton form (all competitions):

Team news

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Perhaps with an eye on an important Champions League trip to Leipzig next Tuesday, Unai Emery could make further changes to his Aston Villa line-up after a surprise selection Tyrone Mings in the middle of the week.

Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Jhon Duran And Ian Maatsen Should Emery switch resources, he will be at the front of the queue to move up from the bench Amadou Onana could be one of the substitutes again after a foot injury; Jacob Ramsey still out with a hamstring injury.

Ollie Watkins will be hoping to fend off competition from Duran to start at the front. He has scored five goals in his last six Premier League games at Villa Park and is just one more goal short of keeping up Dwight Yorkes long-standing club record of 37 on home turf.

After his dismissal against Chelsea, the absence of Jack Stephens The suspension makes Southampton’s selection problem this weekend even worse: Will Smallbone, Adam Lallana and regular goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale are among several players occupying a crowded treatment room.

Both are good news for Russell Martin Paul Onuachu And Jan Bednarek may possibly return while Taylor Harwood Bellis, Tyler Dibling And Flynn Downes will all be back after serving a one-match ban.

Lesley Ugochukwu was also prevented from playing against his parent club last time out, so the Saints starting XI could look very different on Saturday afternoon.

Possible Aston Villa starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins

Possible Southampton starting lineup:
Lumley; Sugawara, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning; Dibling, Aribo, Downes, Fernandes; Archer

We say: Aston Villa 2-0 Southampton

Aston Villa looked less like a pale shadow of their former self and looked more lively during the week, allowing them to take off in the Premier League and make it two wins in a row.

Southampton’s numerous absences have only added to their misery and they are expected to return south empty-handed.

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