A Joleon Lescott header has given Aston Villa a 1-0 lead at Southampton in their Premier League clash this afternoon.
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The hosts took control of proceedings from the first minute, as Dusan Tadic blazed an effort over the bar after some good work from Sadio Mane, before the Serbian winger found Graziano Pelle in the box, only for the Italy international to send an effort too high.
The Saints continued to push for an early breakthrough, coming close from a Tadic corner which Victor Wanyama headed over the crossbar, while Mane sliced an effort off target in front of goal.
Villa's first effort on target came in the 21st minute, as Idrissa Gueye tried his luck from outside the penalty area, only for Southampton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to make a fairly comfortable save.
Southampton came close to breaking the deadlock moments later, as Villa shot-stopper Brad Guzan kept out a James Ward-Prowse effort in the bottom corner of the goal, before the American denied Pelle from a corner.
Villa took the lead against the run of play on 44 minutes, as Lescott connected with a Jordan Veretout corner to finish past Stekelenburg.
The hosts almost pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time, as Pelle headed wide from a Ryan Bertrand corner.
Stephen Topping
