Watford 3 Aston Villa 0 - Report

Troy Deeney netted twice for the Hornets as they inflicted a fifth defeat in six Premier League matches on Dean Smith’s team.

The former Walsall striker opened the scoring just before the break and then doubled it from the penalty spot, after the hosts had seen Adrian Mariappa sent-off.

Ismaila Sarr then netted a third to ensure Villa will end 2019 in the relegation zone.

Analysis

There was controversy about both of the home team’s second half goals and Villa can perhaps feel hard done by with Sarr’s strike, after Jack Grealish appeared to be fouled in the build-up.

But any errors by the officials should not distract from what was a truly abject performance by Smith’s men, against a Watford team who have been in the bottom three all season but now sit just two points behind them.

On this evidence, the Hornets look far better equipped for the relegation dogfight ahead of both teams.

Home keeper Ben Foster pulled off a superb save to deny Wesley with the game goal-less but was otherwise untested by the toothless visitors, who rarely looked like getting back into the game after Deeney had broken the deadlock.

Defeat ramps up the pressure again for Smith ahead of a New Year’s Day trip to Burnley.

Smith made three changes from the team which beat Norwich, handing Jota a first Premier League start since August.

Conor Hourihane was rewarded for his winner against the Canaries with a recall, while Henri Lansbury made his second start of the season in midfield.

Wing duo Anwar El Ghazi and Trezeguet both dropped to the bench, along with Marvelous Nakamba.

Both Villa keeper Tom Heaton and opposite number Foster had both made headlines after making superb saves on Boxing Day and they were again pulling off heroics in the first-half here.

First, Heaton was on hand to prevent Villa going behind in the first minute, saving at close range after Christian Kabasele had re-directed Deeney’s header on goal from just six yards out.

But it was nothing compared to Foster’s stop, which prevented Wesley from giving the visitors a 24th minute lead.

Villa, who had shown little as an attacking force to that point, broke on the counter and Hourihane delivered a cross which Wesley looked certain to convert. But Foster managed to get his right foot to the striker’s downward header, diverting the ball over the bar.

Villa saw a penalty shout turned down by both referee Simon Hooper and the VAR after Wesley tumbled under the challenge of Craig Cathcart.

Yet as the half wore on it was Watford who began to assume control and Kortney Hause was required to make a vital block from Sarr after the winger had skipped inside Matt Targett.

Deeney was then guilty of a bad miss when he diverted the ball straight at Heaton from three yards out.

Just a few minutes later he was celebrating after Villa, having been pushed further and further back, played their way into trouble one too many times.

Deeney charged down Ezri Konsa’s attempted clearance and was then on hand to tuck home the loose ball after Heaton had saved Doucoure’s shot at full stretch.

Smith brough on El Ghazi for the ineffective Jota at half-time but Villa were struggling to make much headway until the hosts found themselves a man down.

Mariappa, booked in the first-half for pulling back Grealish, was shown a second yellow after catching Lansbury late.

But Villa’s glimmer of hope was quickly swept away as the hosts scored twice in the space of four minutes, with both goals containing a hint of controversy.

First Deeney doubled the lead from the spot, having been brought down clumsily by Douglas Luiz. Villa were fuming however, with Watford having played on despite Targett being down injured, with the key pass to Deeney having been played right past the prone defender.

Soon after the day got worse when Capoue appeared to bring down Grealish but referee Hooper waved play on, allowing Watford to break with Capoue delivering the cross for Sarr to slot home at the far post.

The goal was checked by VAR official Jonathan Moss but allowed to stand and for Villa, there was no way back.

Key Moments

42 - GOAL - After a spell of pressure Watford make the breakthrough. Deeney charges down Ezri Konsa’s clearance and is then on hand to score on the rebound after Tom Heaton saves Abdoulaye Doucoure’s shot.

57 RED CARD Watford’s Adrian Mariappa is shown a second yellow card after bringing down Henri Lansbury.

67 GOAL Troy Deeney converts from the spot after being brought down by Douglas Luiz. Villa are unhappy as Watford played on with Matt Targett down injured.

71 GOAL Watford make it three. Etienne Capoue appears to foul Jack Grealish but the referee plays on and Capoue then crosses for Ismaila Sarr to score.

Teams

Watford (4-2-3-1): Foster, Mariappa, Kabasele, Cathcart (Masina 84), Femenia, Hughes (Chalobah HT (Dawson, 59)), Capoue, Sarr, Doucoure, Deulofeu, Deeney Subs not used: Gray, Quina, Success, Gomes (gk).

Villa: Heaton, Elmohamady, Konsa, Hause, Targett (Guilbert 66), Lansbury (Kodjia 73), Luiz, Hourihane, Jota (El Ghazi HT), Wesley, Grealish Subs not used: Chester, Nakamba, Trezeguet, Nyland (gk)).