Tell you what, amid all the doom and gloom that's a cracking chance for Villa to get back level. Southampton don't clear properly, the ball comes out to Ashley Westwood on the right flank and he whips in a lovely cross. Leandro Bacuna gets the run on the centre-backs but nods his header wide. Chance.

Jermaine Jenas
Ex-Spurs & England midfielder on Final Score

"I don't want to talk too much about Aston Villa's poor defending because that would be taking something away from Bertrand's cross - he whipped in an absolute beauty, right onto Shane Long's head."

Trevor Sinclair
Former England winger on Final Score

"Great cross. Bertrand puts it into an area and Long is on his toes and gets there first. 

"From a Villa point of view it is absolutely pathetic. It's two v one at the throw in and then Lescott is ball watching and does not have a clue where Long is."

Image source, Reuters

Now Villa almost concede a second as they make an absolute has of dealing with a corner. They are sleepwalking through this game. The atmosphere could turn quite mutinous here.

Idrissa Gueye plays a nice through ball to Jordan Ayew, he performs a couple of nice shimmies but then takes far too long to get the ball away, and in the end has no option but to have a shot. Side netting.

Steven Davis swings a really good free-kick in and Shane Long, under pressure, heads over the top. He took a clattering there from Micah Richards and is not happy.

Image source, Reuters

To be fair to Villa, they actually break upfield really nicely, led by Jordan Ayew, and after some neat passing win a free-kick on the edge of the area. Leandro Bacuna cracks it into the wall, before Ayew forces a save from Fraser Forster with a low shot.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton are completely dictating the play here. Centre-back Virgil van Dijk has mosied up into the Villa penalty area and he almost gets on the end of a searching cross but Villa eventually scramble clear.

And almost immediately Villa should be behind. A big long ball over the top releases Shane Long, he steps around Joleon Lescott as easily as if he were stepping around a wardrobe, and cracks a half-volley against the bar. Chants of 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' promptly ring round Villa Park. Ah, good times.

Image source, Getty Images

Here we go. Southampton, kicking from right to left, get us going. Random fact of the day: I'm told Villa's ground staff have won the Premier League Groundskeeping Team of the Year award. Well done lads.

Scott Wilcox: I have the oddest feeling Villa will get a win today.

Dan Hayes: I don't understand why the Villa bench at least isn't loaded with youth players. What's the point in persisting with these scrubs?

Image source, Reuters

The players are in the tunnel. Villa's PA system operator is playing his own personal tribute to Prince with a blast of 'Raspberry Beret'. It's what he would have wanted...

Jermaine Jenas
Ex-Spurs & England midfielder on Final Score

Image source, Reuters

"Aston Villa's season has been a shambles. It has been that way all season from top to bottom. It is all the way through the club they need to look at themselves. It is just not good enough

"I don’t know what Okore thinks gives him the right to say he is not playing today."

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has conceded it will be "difficult" for his side to make it into Europe.

The Saints currently lie eighth, three points behind Liverpool (who have played a game less) and five points behind West Ham.

"It is always possible [but] it is very difficult.

"That is why we are still focused and concentrated because it is still not the end of the season and I don't like to end the season in a bad way."

Image source, Getty Images

Owner Randy Lerner has broken his silence following Aston Villa's relegation from the Premier League and says the blame for the club's demise "lies at my feet" - but don't expect fans to go easy on him. 

Villa, who are without a manager, have won only three league games, while two directors quit this week after falling out with the billionaire owner.

There was also a rather eye-catching part of the statement in which Lerner wrote: "Memories of Ashley Young scoring a late winner against Everton still romantically nourish me."

Whatever gets you through those cold winter nights, Randy...

Pat Murphy
BBC Midlands football reporter

Caretaker manager Eric Black says Danish defender Jores Okore hasn't been involved over the past fortnight after refusing to be on the bench for the Bournemouth game.

"He told me he didn’t want to be on the bench," said Black. "I found that strange."  

After meeting Black the following Monday, the 23-year-old said he didn't want to be considered for the first team. He will now train with the Under 21s for the rest of the campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

Final Score

Final Score is live now on BBC Red Button and online. Keep across all the goals from all the games this afternoon with Jason Mohammad, Trevor Sinclair and Jermaine Jenas.