At A Glance
Aston Villa and Southampton meet at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday as Unai Emery’s team kick off the second half of their Premier League season.
Having played 19 games, the club sit 11th in the table – ten points and nine places above opponents Southampton.
Both of Villa’s away wins in the top flight this term have arrived on their last two road trips, thanks to victories against Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur.
Saints’ recent form offers hope for manager Nathan Jones after picking up three consecutive wins in all competitions.
The latest result in that run was a 2-1 league win at Everton, which came courtesy of a James Ward-Prowse brace.
Three points on Merseyside left Southampton just one point adrift of safety heading into Saturday’s game.
Standout Stats
Southampton are trying to avoid losing three Premier League matches in a row against Aston Villa for the first time since April 1998 and April 1999.
Aston Villa have earned 13 points in their six league matches under Unai Emery. It's the best start by any Villa manager appointed this century.
Villa can do the double over Saints for the first time since 2004-05, although their only competitive win in the past six visits to St Mary's came in the league two years ago (D1, L4).
Southampton can earn four consecutive victories in all competitions for the first time since September 2016 under Claude Puel.
The 11 goals since Emery took charge is as many as Villa managed in the 13 matches before his arrival.
Saints’ 2-1 win at Everton last time out ended a club record-equalling run of six successive league defeats. It was also their first points under Nathan Jones, at the fifth attempt.
Villa are looking to win three consecutive Premier League away games for the first time since November 2020.
Southampton have the division's worst home record this season, with one win and six points from nine games.
James Ward-Prowse has scored all four of Southampton's Premier League goals since the World Cup.
Nathan Jones was Luton Town manager when they defeated Aston Villa 3-1 at Kenilworth Road in the 2016-17 League Cup first round. He was in charge of Stoke City when they drew 1-1 at home with Villa in the 2018-19 Championship.
Having won 2-0 at Spurs on New Year's Day, Villa can win their opening two Premier League away fixtures of the year for the second time, after 2009.
The Last Meeting
Jacob Ramsey was the hero as Aston Villa edged past Southampton in the Premier League at Villa Park in September.
The midfielder scored the only goal of the game four minutes before half-time as the hosts finally broke through.
Emi Martinez was rarely tested in goal as the home side picked up three valuable points.
Team News
Unai Emery expects Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash to be ready for Saturday’s game after they trained in the build-up to the match.
The Villa head coach will be without captain John McGinn, Lucas Digne and Diego Carlos.
Alex McCarthy and Theo Walcott are nearing a return for the Saints, while new signing Charly Alcaraz could feature.
Armel Bella-Kotchap, Juan Larios and Tino Livramento remain sidelined.
The Boss
“They are in the bottom of the table and they need points. They are signing players as well and they are going to do everything they can to beat us on Saturday. They have very good players and now they are being more consistent than before. They have a better structure, defensively and offensively, to be stronger than they were. They are in the best moment they’ve played in the Premier League this season.”
Unai Emery
