EPL: Villa's Winning Streak Continues with 3-0 Win Over Southampton

Southampton's misery continues as Aston Villa secures a 3-0 win, leaving the Saints one point shy of the lowest-ever Premier League points tally.

Aston Villa secured a crucial 3-0 victory over Southampton, with Ollie Watkins and Donyell Malen inspiring the team to their fourth consecutive win in the Premier League. This win moved Villa up to fifth in the table, highlighting their strong form.

Despite the distraction of their upcoming UEFA Champions League quarter-final against PSG, Villa boss Unai Emery fielded a strong lineup against Southampton. The visitors dominated the opening stages, with Marcus Rashford and Youri Tielemans both having early chances thwarted. Villa's pressure continued into the first half, but they struggled to capitalize on half-chances in the final third.

Despite Villa's dominance in possession, Southampton posed a threat on the counter, with Paul Onuachu directing a header into the side-netting. The scores remained level at halftime, with neither team able to capitalize on their chances. Villa, aware of their poor record in matches following Champions League fixtures, knew they needed a strong start to the second half.

The pressure intensified in the second half, with Amadou Onana's strike smartly saved by Aaron Ramsdale and Jan Bednarek heading narrowly over his own bar. The breakthrough came when Bednarek fouled substitute Ollie Watkins in the box, earning Villa a penalty. However, Marco Asensio's spot-kick was denied by Ramsdale, keeping the scores level.

The miss didn't deter Aston Villa, who finally broke through four minutes later. Ollie Watkins capitalized on a perfect pass from Youri Tielemans, racing onto the ball and lifting a magnificent finish over Aaron Ramsdale for his 14th Premier League goal of the season.

Three substitutes on the scoresheet, and Aston Villa move up to fifth!#SOUAVL pic.twitter.com/qurxBiUiTJ

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 12, 2025

Villa doubled their lead with 11 minutes remaining when Donyell Malen received a neat pass from Morgan Rogers and rifled a clinical finish into the far corner. This goal sealed the win for Villa, who further added to the scoreline in stoppage time when John McGinn converted a rebound from another saved Marco Asensio penalty.

The victory propelled Villa into the Champions League qualification spots, marking their ninth win in the last 10 matches across all competitions. Meanwhile, Southampton's struggles continue, leaving them just one point shy of the lowest-ever points tally in Premier League history.