Staff Reporter.
Aston Villa suffered a fifth successive Premier League defeat as Adam Armstrong’s stunning early strike earned Southampton a 1-0 home victory on Friday.
Former Blackburn Rovers forward Armstrong had not scored since his debut on the opening game of the season but ended his drought in powerful strike in the third minute.
Dean Smith’s side are short on confidence and got off to a disastrous start with Matt Cash failing to clear a long ball and Armstrong smashing in a sensational first-time effort from 20 yards.
Villa were a mess in the first half and Southampton could have led by several goals at the break, while the visitors’ Anwar el Ghazi was lucky to avoid a second booking for a blatant dive.
But Villa looked like a new side in the second half with El Ghazi and Emiliano Buendia going close.
They also had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Oriol Romeu pulled Tyrone Mings’ shirt, but they could not find a leveller and the pressure increases on Smith.
Asked if he will be given time to turn round Villa’s form, he said: “I have no idea.
“I have never had any control over that so I never worry about it. I always concentrate on my job day to day and continue to do that.
“I am very confident if given time that we will turn it around with the squad we have got, and the players we have got coming back [from injury].”
Southampton move up to 12th, while Villa remain only three points above the relegation zone before everybody else plays this weekend.
Premier League Weekend Results and Fixtures:
Friday, November 5
Southampton 1-0 Aston Villa
Saturday, November 6
Manchester United vs Manchester City
Brentford vs Norwich
Chelsea vs Burnley
Crystal Palace vs Wolves
Brighton vs Newcastle
Sunday, November 7
Arsenal vs Watford
Everton vs Tottenham
Leeds United vs Leicester
West Ham United vs Liverpool.