aston villa 0 v 1 watford

 

  

The dregs of Storm Eunice provide the back-drop to Watford's Villa Park visit. It should presage a sound drubbing for the second-from-bottom Hornets but instead the plucky boys in claret and blue find themselves mired between the serried and resilient ranks of Watford defenders.

 

You have to hand it to Hodgson. Whilst Roy's team may not have star-studded, scintillating genius a-plenty he does at least get them well-organised.

 

An early penalty shout is denied by VAR. There's lots of possession but precious little end-product in the final third of the pitch. It therefore comes as no surprise when late in the game a well-taken header by Emmanuel Dennis consigns Villa to yet another home loss.

 

Rather like Storm Eunice, Villa's latest performance proves full of wind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

aston villa 2 v watford 1

Talk about leaving it to the last minute!!!

Villa go head-to-head with Watford in what's effectively a six-pointer. The two teams are hovering in or about the relegation zone with just one point separating them. This is a must-win for us.

The game starts promisingly with Villa commanding most of the possession. But wouldn't you know it - Watford's first real attack and up pops Villa nemesis, Troy Deeney to head home a fine cross.  One nil down with half-time approaching.

After the break Villa open in positive fashion, pinning back the Hornets. A combination of dogged defence and blatant time-wasting tactics hold us at bay until at last substitute, Douglas Luiz finds the back of the Watford net and it's game on.

Villa continue to press but the clock's running down. We're five minutes into injury time as new keeper, Pepe Reina lofts a speculative free-kick high into Watford's box. Tyrone Mings gets on the end of it, he's tripped and the ball flies free to Ezri Konsa who fires home. We've won!!!

The goal is subsequently awarded to Mings, but who cares - it's a precious three points.