Southampton 0 Aston Villa 1 - Player ratings

Emiliano Martinez

Kept his 10th clean sheet in 19 Premier League matches for Villa. Relatively untroubled in the first half. but then preserved the victory with second-half stops from Che Adams and Jan Bednarek.

Giant 8

Matty Cash

Fortunate not to concede a spot-kick when he blocked Stuart Armstrong’s shot with his arm and was given the benefit of the doubt by VAR. But put himself in the way of several other shots and crosses.

Fearless 7

Ezri Konsa

Another fine performance from the centre-back in a season which has been chock full of them. His reading of the game has come on leaps and bounds.

Assured 7

Tyrone Mings

Villa’s defensive leader could probably be heard halfway across Southampton as he bellowed his way through the match, urging his team-mates on. Always at the heart of the defensive rearguard.

Loud 7

Matt Targett

On the return to his former club, Targett gave another display to highlight why he might be considered Villa’s most-improved player from last season.

Strong 7

Douglas Luiz

Struggled to get into the game during the first half and it would be fair to say the Brazil international is not quite on top form at present. Still contributed to Villa’s defensive effort.

Busy 6

John McGinn

Involved in the build-up to the goal and used the ball well at times. But there were other occasions when he was guilty of giving the ball away cheaply. No shortage of effort, but capable of much more.

Steady 6

Bertrand Traore

Having been involved in much of Villa’s best work at Burnley, the Burkina Faso international was a peripheral figure in attack here. Made up for it with plenty of running and tracked back well.

Peripheral 5

Ross Barkley

Earned Villa the win with his third goal of the season and first since bagging a stoppage-time winner at Leicester in October. Showed flashes of his best, but still has more to offer.

Goal 6

Jack Grealish

Villa’s skipper was relatively well-marshalled by the Saints, but he still escaped to set up Barkley for the only goal of the game. A calming presence on the ball as the clock ticked down.

Creator 7

Ollie Watkins

Brought a fine save from Alex McCarthy with Villa’s first effort on goal 38 minutes in and then drew another stop from the Saints keeper just before the break.

Worker 6

Substitutes

Marvelous Nakamba (for Barkley 90+6). Subs not used: Engels, Elmohamady, Taylor, Sanson, El Ghazi, Trezeguet, Davis, Heaton (gk).