How many chances do Villa want?

John McGinn curls in an inviting cross and although Axel Tuanzebe gets the better of his marker, he cannot find the target from eight yards out.

Villa keep on coming, Southampton are creaking.

Emiliano Buendia is taking the game by the scruff of the neck, sprinting to the byeline and pulling the ball back for Tyrone Mings to shoot over.

The two link up again.

It's sumptuous stuff from Villa as Ollie Watkins rolls the ball perfectly into the path of Emiliano Buendia on the edge of the box, but the former Norwich man curls wide.

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

The Villa staff are down around the third official and I know why. They are not happy with that shirt pull.

Image source, Getty Images

Chances falling Villa's way at the start of this second half.

Ollie Watkins shows good industry with a bustling run down the left and then finding Emiliano Buendia with the cutback, but the Argentine fires wide.

Villa have started the second half really well, on the front foot and looking to force the issue.

They need to make this spell of possession count though.

Villa skipper Tyrone Mings is clearly having his shirt tugged in the box by Oriol Romeu but the referee waves play on.

He had a good case there.

Meanwhile, Anwar El Ghazi spins away from his marker and rockets a rising shot which Alex McCarthy punches over the crossbar.

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I feel there is enough on the field to change things for Aston Villa. They just need to apply themselves a lot better.

Image source, Getty Images

You can't keep Anwar El Ghazi out of the headlines.

The Dutchman jumps highest at the far post and sees a header deflect just wide of the post.

Yeh, learning how to play off-spin.

Jon Evans: What do Villa work on in training? Cricket? No progress or sign of any strategy or system. Awful.

Anwar El Ghazi, who should have had three bookings in that first half, is still out there.

Get sent off now and Dean Smith will make him walk back to the Midlands.

Can Villa turn it around?

The stats don't suggest they can.

We shall see, off we go for the second half.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa have only won one of their last 70 Premier League games in which they have trailed at half-time (D6 L63), a 2-1 win over Watford in January 2020.

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Villa have been extremely poor. I've been really impressed by Southampton - their energy, desire, quality. They've kept the pressure on. They needed to put the game to bed, they should have scored more.

Villa look leggy, sluggish. They've had a lesson, they've been bossed.

Southampton took an early lead and Dean Smith has work do to with his men at half time.

It's not going well for Villa.

Alex McCarthy has not had much to do but stays alert on a bitterly cold evening, springing off line to collect pounce on Matt Targett's knockdown into the six yard box.

It would have been a delightful second.

Southampton are toying with Villa, one touch football with Che Adams laying the ball off for Oriel Romeu on the edge of the area, but the Spaniard's careful, side-footed shot skims the crossbar.

Rob Bull: How is El Ghazi still on the pitch? Disgraceful refereeing

Simon Atkins: The fact VAR can go and look at the "foul", see it's a clear dive, but aren't allowed to tell the ref that is an absolute joke.

Image source, Getty Images

Good awareness from Axel Tuanzebe, reading James Ward-Prowse's pass which almost found Adam Armstrong's dart into the box.