Unai Emery's Aston Villa beat Southampton 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Villa Park in their 15th Premier League game of the season, and won their second consecutive match.
Jhon Duran hassled and fought for control of Diego Carlos's through ball, and once he wrestled possession from Southampton's defence, the striker raced through to goal and struck a left-footed shot past Joe Lumley from the edge of the penalty area in the 24th minute.
Russell Martin's accumulated 54% possession but they were once again toothless in attack, producing just four shots in the entire game.
Villa have now won their last two games and are in fifth place with 25 points, just two fewer than fourth-placed Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Southampton remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League in 20th place with five points and are eight points away from 17th-placed Ipswich Town.
Though Duran deserves immense credit for his desire to win the ball, it is difficult to overlook the fact the Saints ultimately played themselves into trouble, with both Nathan Wood and Taylor Harwood-Bellis failing to control possession.
The only concern for Emery will be Leon Bailey's injury in the 57th minute, with the forward forced off after an apparent issue with his left leg.
ASTON VILLA VS. SOUTHAMPTON HIGHLIGHTS
24th min: Aston Villa 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Jhon Duran)
© Imago
Carlos plays a poor ball behind Southampton's defence to Duran, but the striker shows his determination and wins possession before he races through to the edge of the box, and the Villa forward sweeps home past Lumley from a central area.
Duran showed great fight there!
57th min: Aston Villa 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (injury)
© Imago
It is bad news for Villa and Bailey, who appears to have an issue with his left leg and pulls up, giving Emery no option but to substitute him for Jaden Philogene-Bidace.
Hopefully it's not too serious.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JHON DURAN
© Imago
Duran has sometimes struck a frustrated figure at Villa, often being forced to sit out for senior striker Ollie Watkins.
The striker was afforded a start on Saturday, and he certainly repaid his manager's faith, with the forward battling for possession of the ball before scoring the winner in the 24th minute.
Duran was substituted after an hour but still managed to produce three shots and create the most xG of any player, all while providing a constant threat in behind Southampton's defence.
ASTON VILLA VS. SOUTHAMPTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Aston Villa 47%-53% Southampton
Shots: Aston Villa 18-4 Southampton
Shots on target: Aston Villa 5-0 Southampton
Corners: Aston Villa 13-1 Southampton
Fouls: Aston Villa 18-15 Southampton
BEST STATS
Jhon Durán goals:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) December 7, 2024
9 — This season
8 — All of last season pic.twitter.com/FAV3wlzAHJ
WHAT NEXT?
Aston Villa will face RB Leipzig in the Champions League on December 10 in Germany before travelling to play Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on December 14.
As for Southampton, they will welcome Tottenham Hotspur to St Mary's on December 15, but will have to overcome Liverpool in the EFL Cup on December 18.
Lewis Nolan
