Adam Armstrong's early goal helps Southampton continue their Premier League revival as they inflict a fifth defeat in a row on Aston Villa.

Have a read of Emlyn Begley's report

We are back on Saturday for more Premier League action, including the small matter of a Manchester derby.

Until then.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith told BBC Sport: "We started [well] the first couple of minutes, then a cross hits Matty Cash on the bum and drops down for their lad who hits a superb half-volley to score. That knocked the stuffing out of us.

"When you're on a bad run, something like that is hard to take. They were the better team in the first half.

"We got them in at half-time and put it right. Bailey played down the middle and Buendia off the right and we looked a totally different team. We played with intensity in the second half.

"There was a response. You can't question the character of the players. We have a few injuries. Some of our subs were academy grsduates. I don’t like making excuses. We shouldn't be losing five games on the spin.

"We can get some players back to fitness during the international break and come back stronger.

"You’d like a game in the next three or four days but we can’t.

"The fans were great tonight. You heard the backing from the fans. It's a results-based industry. We have to get better. We looked nervous after their goal but second half was the intensity I want to see."

Southampton

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl told BBC Sport: "We came into half-time with a lot of energy, aggression against the ball. In the second half we had not our best game with the ball.

"The opponent was giving us a lot of pressure. Then you start struggling a bit. That’s why I had to change shape. We didn't play much football in the second half, we had the one chance from Che Adams.

"If you defend properly you can still win games. We are defensively more stable than last season and have the feeling we can keep clean sheets.

"The long balls are coming and they have a few big players, it’s hard to defend. We couldn’t control the game and that was a problem in the second half. We tried to keep them in their half. We handled it quite well. They didn’t have big chances.

"Very important [run of form]. Now it looks a little better going into this international break and the Christmas period. We’re in good shape."

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith tells Sky Sports: "It became a tale of two halves, Southampton controlled the first half and we controlled in the second. When you are getting a run of results you get kicked in the teeth and they scored a hell of a goal. I said to the players at half-time, you can't feel the world is against you and have to go and leave everything out there which is what they did.

"I have been told it should have been a penalty, we will have to ask VAR Stuart Attwell.

"I don't know where the goal knocked the stuffing out of us but they were better on the ball than us. We did not get the press right, it took us time, and when we did we looked better.

"I am a scrapper, always have been and disappointed to lose five on the spin. We have five players out injured and we will get players fit in the international break.

"We work hard during the break with the players that are there and get ready for Brighton. You saw what we are about in the second half, a fair score would have been a draw."

Southampton

Southampton have taken 10 points from their last four Premier League games (W3 D1), as many points as they won in their previous 12 in the competition (W2 D4 L6).

Southampton

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl tells Sky Sports: "A team that comes out after half-time, puts you under pressure is always hard to play against, a lot of long and high balls so we changed to a back five. We still had good moments but only one good chance in the second half with Che Adams' header. No matter, we have a fifth clean sheet this season which is amazing and an important three points.

"It was Adam Armstrong's second goal and we managed to win, good for him, good for us and a striker starts scoring. He has a very good finish, left foot, right foot.

"We have lost a little bit of control, we were a bit hectic and the opponents were a bit more aggressive. We did not take the biggest risks today, tried to kick the ball longer but in some moments you have to take the right tools to win the game."

On whether Anwar El Ghazi should have been sent off: "Absolutely. I have seen it at half-time, he was diving when booked but it is not about me to ask for red cards, we have won the game and they have problems which we had at the start of the season.

"A very solid platform after a bad start, the last season we conceded so many goals so the biggest challenge was to get more stable defensively and have shown we have turn things around now."

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

The pressure builds. An Aston Villa who spent a lot of money, Dean Smith understands that and people will ask questions. When you lose Jack Grealish though it is huge to the football club.Sometimes you find a lull when expectations are a bit higher and you have to be a little cautious.

Southampton

Southampton striker Adam Armstrong tells Sky Sports: "Quality. We knew we had to come into this game and I had to show I could score goals, we could have had more. To get the three points is amazing.

"It dropped nicely. I should have had a few goals last week and I had to stay positive. I hit it nicely.

"My first goal at home, a nice feeling and the fans were brilliant.

"No pressure for me, I know I can score goals, I have had chances and as a striker that is football. You cannot be too down on yourself.

"It has been good, tough in the Premier League, the best league in the world and hopefully more goals to come.

"The table looks nice, we needed to get three points before the international break. It is massive, a big three points where we are in the table."

Jon Evans: I've been a fan of Smith but it's time for him to go. The team have looked awful these last 5 games and the statistics are damning. The football Villa play is bottom half level. Need someone to sort it out, we have a very capable squad.

Dean Smith remains standing at the edge of the tunnel.

He looks a bit shell-shocked really.

Testing times for him with the international break coming up too.

And you know what happen then if results aren't going your way...

All over.

Southampton claim the three points but it is very worrying times for Dean Smith and Aston Villa, losing their fifth game on the bounce.

Long ball forward from Matty Cash, Lyanco sweeping up at the back.

James Ward-Prowse taking the ball into the corner.

Villa will have to go the full length of the pitch if they want to score.

Three of the seven minutes have already elapsed.

Have Villa run out of steam or have they got one final push in them?

Saints defender Mohammed Salisu is booked for a tug on a Villa man breaking forward.

SEVEN (SEVEN) minutes of time added on.

Plentyyy for Aston Villa to try and get an equaliser.

Pinball inside the Southampton box.

Axel Tuanzebe misses his kick and then Matty Cash on the follow up does the same with his chunky legs.

John McGinn whips it in at the near post, Alex McCarthy manages to punch it clear.

Southampton survive.

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Dean Smith has done an incredible job. He has had to sell his best player, but after this weekend straight away you could ask him about whether he is worried and he coud have a different view point then he did on Thursday.