Steven Gerrard was happy with how his Aston Villa gamers carried out as they edged out Southampton to win 1-0 at Villa Park.
The Villans have been criticised in the beginning of this season. Earlier than Friday evening’s sport, that they had solely gained one sport in six in the beginning of the 2022/23 marketing campaign.
Final day out they had been afforded a confidence increase as they earned some extent in a 1-1 draw towards Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis.
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Villa took management of their conflict towards Southampton earlier than the interval as Jacob Ramsey smashed the ball residence from contained in the penalty space to make it 1-0.
That objective proved to be sufficient for the hosts to select up all three factors as Aston Villa and Southampton performed out a really boring sport.
This win lifts Gerrard’s aspect as much as thirteenth within the desk as they’re now degree on seven factors with the Saints.
The Villa boss admitted post-match that his aspect’s efficiency “wasn’t fairly or fashionable” however they gained “in a realistic approach”:
“It’s a giant victory. It wasn’t fairly or fashionable however, with the place we had been within the league, we knew we needed to do it in a realistic approach,” Gerrard advised BBC Sport.
“I’m actually pleased with the boys’ effort, utility and dedication.
“We performed higher than we did final time. In soccer, it’s important to grind and battle and be dedicated and we labored arduous at present.
“We are going to get higher by way of fashion and possession and that may come however tonight was concerning the factors.
“We needed to again up our efficiency towards Manchester Metropolis and there have been a whole lot of eyes on us from the TV however we did it.”
On Villa’s clear sheet: “It’s the way you construct consistency by defending your field nicely. I’ve been essential about this group and the detailing of defending at instances however at present there have been a whole lot of our bodies on the road at present.
“Possibly we tried to drive it a bit tonight however as we transfer up the desk perhaps that’s when the beautiful stuff will come.
“It has been a troublesome interval however I’ve needed to step ahead and shield my gamers. I’ve tried to battle and transfer up this desk.
“Now we have accepted a whole lot of criticism and it’s about reacting and that’s what now we have carried out tonight.”
Villans captain John McGinn added post-match that that the win “feels good” even when it “was not fairly”:
“It’s big. We’ve been criticised this season for not grafting however tonight we fought for each ball. It wasn’t fairly however it feels good,” McGinn mentioned.
“If I used to be watching on the tv I might’ve turned it off. We graft week in week out however it’s a waste if we don’t carry out on the weekend. I’m delighted of gamers like Phil [Coutinho] who’ve proved folks flawed with good performances tonight.
“Now we have not been on nice type. We’re not clicking and creating sufficient probabilities however tonight, after we acquired the objective, we stayed sturdy. We restricted Saints to only a few probabilities and it’s an enormous win going into the worldwide break.
“I used to be dreading going as much as Scotland with a draw or a defeat so it’ll make the drive up a bit sweeter.”
