Aston Villa

Were you at St Mary's Stadium or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Southampton's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

With the best will in the world, Aston Villa are going to go out of the Champions League. They do have players capable of scoring the goals they need against Paris-St Germain in the second leg of their quarter-final, but it will be very hard for them to turn that tie around.

If Villa open up, you just feel that might suit PSG, who are my tip to win the competition by the way.

With that game coming up on Tuesday it is just as well for Villa that things will be a heck of a lot easier against Southampton.

Simon Rusk is in charge of Saints now Ivan Juric has left, and they are not going to just lie down at home, but Villa could make a few changes and still get over the line.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Manchester City v Crystal Palace (12:30)

• Brighton v Leicester City

• Nottingham Forest v Everton

• Southampton v Aston Villa

• Arsenal v Brentford (17:30)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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There are lots of different perspectives in terms of how you watch a game of football, and I think for the majority of time the people in the stadium get the best atmosphere, but the worst views of how a game has actually gone.

You don't really get the chance to see multiple replays and have discussions about things, because you just get caught up in the moment.

With the incoming semi automated offsides, they did promise it earlier in the season - but I think the caveat was they're only going to do it when it's ready.

It is a positive that they didn't do it when it wasn't ready.

One upside to to the new technology is some of the arguments disappear. Previously you could say 'but it looks like it's this to me' or 'it looks like it's that to me'. When it is presented now, there aren't many people that will then be looking at the animation, going back to the video, and then going down a proper conspiracy rabbit hole.

So, it ends more arguments, not all arguments, but more arguments.

I think people, as a consequence, will be more accepting of it.

But, I still do believe that there's things for people to understand, because it can't be used in every situation. There are certain decisions which can still be a little bit more complex, and there's certain times where human intervention will still need to be brought in.

I wouldn't say it's as clear as, say, goal line technology, but it's a step in the direction to where most people feel more comfortable accepting the outcome and the speed of it as well will be encouraged.

It's not to say that it's going to be instant. If you believe this is going to be perfect, and always extremely fast, ask yourself, why do you think that?

Unless somebody has told you that from PGMOL, then take it with a pinch of salt and you see how it goes.

I think it's something that many people have seen before so hopefully there will be fewer arguments.

But, because it's football, there'll always be something to argue about the end of the day.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Southampton (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emery said that he is unsure of the players that will be available for selection against Southampton as the team is training later in the afternoon on Friday. However, winger Leon Bailey is "progressively getting better" and could be available very soon.

• On the objectives for the remainder of the season: "We are enjoying playing in the Champions League and the [FA Cup] semi-final in two weeks but the Premier League is the most important. Our objectives during the season is the same as the beginning. Seven matches to play and we have to focus on the Premier League."

• Emery also said that if the side is not "ready" against relegated Southampton then they will lose and it "is the most important match" they are playing.

• Emery also said that he was chosen as Villa manager for a reason and that is because he "was successful". And, with the help and ambition of the owners, they have brought a cultural change within the club.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Since both Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio made their Premier League debuts for Aston Villa on 15 February against Ipswich, only Liverpool (16) have picked up more points in the competition than Villa (14).

Rashford has won four of his seven league appearances for the club, just one fewer than he won in 15 games for Manchester United this season before joining (five).

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Luis Enrique and his players know their Champions League quarter-final tie is not over, but what chance do Aston Villa have of hauling themselves back into their tie and even winning it?

Paris St-Germain might have a decent record away from home, but Unai Emery will be pleased to know similar comebacks have been achieved before.

Nine teams have been exactly two goals down after an away leg in a Champions League knockout fixture and managed to successfully turn things around on home soil.

The most recent team to do so were Juventus, who lost the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie 2-0 at Atletico Madrid in 2018-19, but won the second leg 3-0.

PSG have twice surrendered two-goal leads at the halfway stage of a Champions League knockout tie to be eliminated - the most of any club. Both defeats came at the hands of Premier League clubs: Chelsea in 2013-14 and Manchester United in 2018-19.

The Ligue 1 side famously once surrendered a four-goal first leg advantage against Barcelona, winning 4-0 at home but losing 6-1 at Nou Camp.

That happened in 2016-17, when PSG were managed by Emery and PSG's current boss Luis Enrique was in charge of Barcelona.

Following Aston Villa's 3-1 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, we asked for your views on the game.

Here are some of your comments:

Mike: Maybe the wrong game plan. At the weekend Villa blew away a Forest side in 20 minutes playing on the front foot. Against PSG, Villa sat back and tried to soak up a team with blistering pace and paid the price. Axel Disasi was a rabbit in the headlights. Marcus Rashford's substitution was too late for Ollie Watkins, who could have held the ball up to have any effect. Ran out of legs. Plan B needed Unai.

Sat: Defeat hurts - especially that third goal - but still immensely proud of this Villa team. And hey, we are still in a better position than Real Madrid...

Prit: The good news is that we've had a look at PSG and it's is only half time. The bad news is that we've had a good look at PSG and they are no longer the show-boats of old but a very good team. I would have taken 2-1 but the third goal is a blow. But have faith Villa fans, Villa Park under the lights is a different proposition and if we can just keep hold of the ball a bit longer, you just never know.

Damien: Opening the scoring was brilliant, but even at that stage I thought we'd likely lose 2-1, which would have been fine. We were more open in the second half and rode our luck at times but looked like we'd hold on to a good away result. That lack of concentration right at the end has cost us massively. Could get ugly next week if we attack and they just pick us off.

Martin: No complaints. We gave everything we had but came up against superior opponents. PSG are one hell of a side. Villa Park has witnessed some fantastic nights in this competition. Next week we have to make Villa Park rock like it's never done before if we are to stand any chance. Come on the Villa. Believe.

Jim: Proud of them. Pity about the last minute goal. How often do teams switch off only to be sucker punched? Just hit them with everything at Villa Park and if we go out, we go out!

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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At 2-1 it was fine. Aston Villa had suffered for long stretches of this match - and all of the first 34 minutes, before they scored their goal - but going home just one behind felt manageable.

Villa supporters in the city earlier told me that they would be happy just to keep it close, and they nearly did.

That result, though, would have been an illusion. The experts who said this would be a much harder test than any so far - harder than Bayern Munich, harder than Juventus, and certainly harder than the last round against Club Brugge, were proved correct.

Charged up by their supporters, who made a formidable noise throughout, a young Paris St-Germain side crackled with verve and imagination. Villa had to expend most of their energy on concentration, through interminable spells of passing at unpredictable angles, focusing intently on the ball and not the whirling feet.

Inevitably, it wore them down. Continuing with Matty Cash, booked in the first half, was too much of a risk, but his replacement Axel Disasi found the problems on the wings equally difficult, and the second PSG goal came after he was beaten.

Occasionally, Villa fought their way off the ropes with John McGinn leading the charge. He was deployed in a noticeably more advanced role than usual, with Youri Tielemans mostly behind him, and McGinn's drive forward led to Villa's goal.

But, the traditional method of quietening a fierce home crowd - keep it tight for half an hour, nick a goal - didn't work here. The home support just turned it up, and their players rode the wave. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, channelling Jack Grealish or, perhaps, Georgi Kinkladze, roamed around picking locks. Desire Doue swirled a shot over Emi Martinez, and Villa's brief lead was gone.

"Our mind doesn't change a lot," said Emery of the third PSG goal. "We have to win at home and by more than one goal."

True. All is not lost. And even if Villa do fall short next week, their Champions League tour will still leave lasting warm memories for a fanbase who had no hope of crossing the channel at all just three years ago.

Villa's fans have been dreaming their way around the continent this season, and for at least five minutes here they were not just dreaming, but believing. By next week, Emery will ensure that his players still believe they can overcome the deficit, but they will need 40,000 others to believe it too. Loudly.

Listen to full commentary of Southampton v Aston Villa at 15:00 on Saturday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM]

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

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Former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin believes Unai Emery should play Ollie Watkins and Marcus Rashford as two strikers in next week's Champions League quarter-final second leg at home to Paris St-Germain.

Villa trail 3-1 from the first leg in Paris, with Rashford starting as the lone striker and being replaced by Watkins after 79 minutes.

"I think Villa did OK," Dublin told the Football Daily podcast.

"It's really hard to play against a team like PSG who suffocate you every time you have the ball. They squeeze in threes and fours and if all your players are in a very similar area, you have nowhere to pass and no out ball. PSG will love that.

"I think towards the end of the game Villa played into their hands though.

"What do PSG do if Unai Emery plays Ollie Watkins and Marcus Rashford together up front in the second leg? You're 3-1 down, I think you've got an entirely different game if you play Watkins and Rashford up front as a two.

"That's what I think Villa should do to get back in this game early on.

"I would have Morgan Rogers start and possibly leave out Boubacar Kamara, leaving John McGinn and Youri Tielemans in. If you want to get back in the game you have to do something drastic."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Axel Disasi "never got into the pace of the game" after being introduced as a half-time substitute in Aston Villa's 3-1 Champions League quarter-final defeat against Paris St-Germain.

Villa went into the break with the score 1-1 at the Parc des Princes, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia dribbled past Disasi to score just four minutes into the second period.

"Kvaratskhelia was absolutely unplayable," Robinson told the Football Daily podcast.

"At times they couldn't get near him. Unai Emery made the change at half time - Matty Cash went off and Axel Disasi came on and Disasi just never got into the pace of the game.

"He never picked up the pace and he didn't know whether to stick of twist. He was getting beaten by Kvaratskhelia every single time. He changed over to the right hand side and then he had to deal with Bradley Barcola who came on and did exactly the same to him.

"They really struggled defensively down that right hand side Aston Villa."

"I agree, Disasi didn't really want to be on the pitch tonight," added former Villa striker Dion Dublin.

"It's hard to get into the pace of the game at that stage as a player coming on but Kvaratskhelia tonight was everywhere."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Aston Villa's fans inside the vast bowl of Parc des Princes were in dreamland when they hit PSG with the perfect sucker punch 10 minutes before half-time, John McGinn's pinch of possession leading to Youri Tielemans playing in Morgan Rogers to tuck home from close range.

Sadly for Villa, the lead was only brief as they were forced to fight a rearguard action against this richly talented PSG side, who are now firm favourites to reach the last four.

Emiliano Martinez, taunted throughout by PSG fans, shrugged off the jeers to make several fine saves, especially from Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi.

Villa would have entered four minutes of stoppage time believing a one-goal deficit was eminently retrievable amid a big atmosphere at Villa Park, even though they spent so much of this first leg clinging on.

Yet their task was made much tougher when Nuno Mendes pounced in the box to sit Martinez on the floor before shooting into the roof of the net.

Villa players slumped to the turf in agony, perhaps realising what a significant blow had been struck with only seconds left.

It was a tough night for Villa against one of Europe's leading sides who have grown into this competition, but they battled valiantly in the face of PSG's superior quality, only to concede for a third time right at the end.

There is still hope for Villa going into that second leg, but it dwindled just a little when Mendes had the final say in this contest.

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Aston Villa still have a "fighting chance" in their Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, says former forward Garry Thompson.

Unai Emery's side looked set to leave Paris with a 2-1 deficit to overturn at Villa Park next Tuesday before a stoppage time goal from Nuno Mendes gave PSG a two-goal cushion in the tie.

"2-1 and it's game on, 3-1 and it is a bit of an uphill task for Villa, but we still have 90 minutes so let's see what happens.

"It is one of those situations where you are playing against a top level side and just a lack of concentration, a little ball played in behind you and bang - you find yourself a goal or two down.

"It is a lesson to be learned. Playing against the better sides you have to learn your lessons quickly. Villa have had a lesson tonight and they are going to have to learn quickly because they have another game on Tuesday.

"Everyone has been looking at this game expecting PSG to win, expecting PSG to coast through. But Villa showed they can defend, they can counter on PSG and at Villa Park, with 40,000 fans shouting them on as well, they have half a chance.

"We still have a fighting chance. This game isn't over yet. They have still got another 90 minuets to show they are a good side.

"Show they have learned their lessons, take it into next week and we have got a chance."

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, speaking to TNT Sports: "It was more or less the expectation I had before the match - 2-1 or 3-1.

"We will play at home next week and it will be a huge challenge for us, but we will feel strong at home with our supporters at Villa Park.

"Today, we needed to be disciplined in defence and even when we were losing 2-1, we had three approaches in their box. More or less, we are right in our momentum to be close to a result. The last goal we conceded, we have to accept it.

"Our mind doesn't change a lot - we have to win at home and by more than one goal.

"In the first half, we had three or four chances to get in their box, maybe only one chance to score. We needed to be clinical and we were in the first half, not in the second.

"We believe in our supporters, we believe in Villa Park and that the players can get the best performance next week."

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Former Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock, speaking on MOTD: UEFA Champions League: "Unai Emery's gameplan was interesting because we are used to seeing Villa play with a high line in the Premier League and then he changed it to a deep line at the start of the game.

"It was working, and you are thinking how clever and what great management.

"So, I was surprised that Villa had a slightly different approach in the second half and were a bit more open. I don't know whether that was a message Emery sent out to the players, or if the team have just got caught out a little bit, but it felt like their midfield was not as close to the back four, and the distance grew between their midfield and attack too, so they were a lot more stretched.

"That allowed PSG to counter attack them more, and get behind their defence, compared to the first half when Villa were camped in on the edge of their own box and said to PSG 'come and break us down', and they couldn't - except from a worldie of a goal by Desire Doue.

"It is very easy in hindsight but I just wonder if Emery will look back at this game and wonder if he should have made more changes early on, because his team were so stretched, and bring some more energy and legs in.

"[Aston Villa] will have to go at them [in second leg], which opens up the game for PSG on the break. If Villa were 2-1 down they could stick with the way they played in the first half tonight, knowing they can nick a goal and level the tie.

"PSG will be much happier now because they know they have got a two-goal lead to defend, and they also have this threat on the break. The third goal massively changes the tie, and it is massively in their favour now."

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Aston Villa goalscorer Morgan Rogers, speaking to TNT Sports: "It was difficult. They're a really good team and have stars all over the place.

"It's difficult when you have to defend so much and battle. We did but in the end it was the quality from them and maybe some mistakes from us.

"We knew it would be difficult and knew how deadly they are. We didn't want to just come here and be spectators.

"Obviously the scoreline is not in our favour but we've got another game and we'll try and turn it around.

"We're here for a reason, we're not here to just compete. We want to keep fighting and normally we have the quality to compete with any team in the world.

"There's loads of belief in the changing room. We have nothing to lose, nobody thought we'd win the tie in the first place. Why not just go for it? We've definitely got the quality to turn things around. It's not done yet."

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Aston Villa remain winless away against French opposition in all competitions (D2 L4), with three of those four defeats coming across the past two seasons under Unai Emery.

Meanwhile, Youri Tielemans' assist and Morgan Rogers' goal after 35 minutes were Villa's first touches in the opposition box in the match.

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?