Weimann through to Agbonlahor, but the Saints clear and try to run the ball into the far corner.
THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES and Southampton have earned a massive three points here at Villa Park. The home side are booed off again and it's more misery for Paul Lambert.
90' +2
A. Boruc gets yellow.
Free kick for Southampton as the Saints look to bring a calmness back into the game. Villa are really flying at the moment and their fans are urging them on. Entering the 93rd minute and Weimann's frustrations are clear as he's shown a yellow card for dissent.
90'
There will be five minutes added time and Villa attack yet again. It's frantic here at Villa and Bowery does well in the box with ball landing at the feet of Benteke. The Belgian has the ball at his feet with the goal right in front of him and he fires wide.
89'
Villa are piling the pressure here. Baker smashes the bar from a corner and Southampton are really struggling to cope at the moment. Whispers of five minutes to be added on as well here.
88'
Boruc has made yet another great save for Southampton. Crosses continue to fly into the box, as the Villans look for Benteke. Before the injury to Shaw, Boruc kept the Saints in it after a Bannan free kick found the Belgian striker.
87'
S. De Ridder enters the game and replaces L. Shaw.
86'
A big blow for Southampton as Luke Shaw is about to replaced. The 17-year-old full-back is stretchered down the tunnel following his collision with Matthew Lowton. Steve De Ridder replaces him.
84'
Luke Shaw goes down injured but Halsey has stopped the game. There's some pushing and shoving going on here between the two teams and it's all a bit unnecessary. "You're not fit to referee" echoes round the stadium from disgruntled Villa fans. Southampton are looking to close the game out and Villa are frustrated here.
82'
S. Davis enters the game and replaces J. Puncheon.
Steven Davis replaces the excellent Jason Puncheon with Nigel Adkins surely looking to see the remainder of this game out here.
80'
Ten minutes remain for Villa to grab an equaliser as "When the Saints go marching in" rings round Villa Park. The away fans are enjoying themselves here and are just minutes away from a huge three points.
Minute
Description
78'
J. Bowery enters the game and replaces A. Westwood.
Benteke fires just over the bar after some good work from Jordan Bowery who has just replaced Ashley Westwood. Villa threatening again after a quiet last 10 minutes.
77'
D. Fox enters the game and replaces G. Ramírez.
Southampton substitution as Gaston Ramirez is replaced by Daniel Fox.
76'
Southampton corner as Schneiderlin whips the ball into the box. Yoshida manages to get his head to it but can only fire it over the bar. Another chance goes begging as the Saints attempt to wrap up the game. There's going to be a substitution for Villa in the next stoppage.
74'
Beautiful play between Lambert and Rodriguez creates a chance for Schneiderlin as he is slipped through. His shot, however, is weak and a good chance to grab a second goes begging here.
73'
Southampton throw-in by the corner flag on the right-hand side, but nothing comes from it. It's scrappy in midfield at the moment, neither side able to keep hold of possession.
70'
Villa free kick from the left-hand side with Bannan standing over the ball. It's whipped in towards the far post but it's a bit too heavy for Benteke. The Belgian stretches as he attempts a header and inadvertently clears it for Southampton.
68'
Southampton have played some great football at times today and they work the ball very well on the edge of the area. It comes to Puncheon who cuts inside from the right, running along the edge of the 18-yard-box trying to work a shot. Puncheon manages to sneak a shot with his left foot and it cannons off the post.
66'
Villa come forward again but Weimann can't force his way through the Southampton defence and the ball is cleared.
63'
A rare chance this half for Southampton and it's Rodriguez who works his way into the box brilliantly. He holds off the defender and draws goalkeeper Brad Guzan towards him before aiming a cross towards the six-yard box with Puncheon arriving. The ball just evades the Saints winger and is cleared by Villa. The Villans were almost caught out again there.
62'
G. Agbonlahor enters the game and replaces C. N'Zogbia.
Charles N'Zogbia is being replaced by Gabriel Agbonlahor, who is making his comeback from injury. The introduction of Bannan has sparked Villa into life, will Paul Lambert's second substitution bring the goal Villa desperately need here?
59'
Southampton corner now but it's easily cleared by the Villa defence. It comes back out to Puncheon on the right-hand side and he knocks it wide to Clyne whose cross is deflected into the grateful arms of Guzan who looks to start a counterattack.
57'
Corner to Villa. Westwood delivers a great cross but nobody can get on the end of it. Bannan keeps it alive and whips it into the box looking for Weimann. It's knocked behind for a corner to be taken by N'Zogbia. The corner, however, is poor once again from the French winger. His delivery has not be great from set pieces so far. On the touchline, Gabriel Agbonlahor is warming up for the Villans.
55'
It's attack after attack for Aston Villa and this will be just want manager Paul Lambert wanted. Southampton have looked shaky this opening 10 minutes of the second half and Villa have started strong.
54'
Barry Bannan delivers a free kick deep into the Saints box finding Benteke. The Belgian fires a great header across goal looking for strike-partner Weimann but Boruc claims it before the striker can get a look-in.
51'
A fantastic effort from Stevens forces a wonderful save from Saints keeper Boruc. The rebound falls to Benteke but the Belgian blazes the ball over. He should have done better there but this is much better from Villa.
49'
Weimann with a chance for Villa, as they press for an equaliser. The shot is fumbled by Boruc and the Saints manage to clear. They're now on the counter but Rodriguez's ball into the box is overhit and Villa clear.
47'
A poor cross from Puncheon is cleared by the Villa defence who look to breakaway. Benteke and Weimann combine but the resulting shot from Weimann rolls into the arms of Boruc.
46'
B. Bannan enters the game and replaces B. Holman.
Villa have made a change with Barry Bannan coming on and replacing Brett Holman. Will this bring about a change in their fortune as they look to avoid defeat. The Villans start the second half, and we're back underway.
45' +1
There's a roar of encouragement from the Villa fans as they look for an equaliser before the end of the half. There's a half-hearted penalty claim from Benteke but I'm not entirely sure what he wants it for. The ball goes out for a throw-in and the half-time whistle goes to a chorus of boos from the disgruntled Villa fans. Saints lead 1-0 at the break.
43'
Luke Shaw with another fantastic run down the left side. He beats Villa's Matthew Lowton and makes his way into the box where his shot is diverted wide by Guzan at the near post. It goes for another Southampton corner.
40'
Corner again for Southampton. Villa are hanging on here. The corner is driven in low by Ramirez and he finds it cleared all the way back to him. Second attempt at a cross and it's headed towards the 18-yard-box where Jack Cork's spectacular effort goes miles over the bar.
37'
Villa get a slight breather after a misplaced pass gifts the Villans a throw-in. Southampton seem to be going from strength to strength here now. Villa need to hold on until half-time here otherwise it could be a very difficult afternoon for them.
34'
Penalty goal scored by R. Lambert for Southampton!
GOAL FOR SOUTHAMPTON - Rickie Lambert. Lambert still hasn't missed a penalty for the Saints. That's 29 out of 29 now. Villa are in trouble here but it's a controversial decision from Mark Halsey to award the penalty. It looks like Jay Rodriguez has dived to win the penalty, but Halsey gives it. It may be controversial but there's no stopping the penalty from Lambert and there's no excusing Villa's abysmal defending from that Southampton attack. Saint's lead 1-0 at Villa Park.
31'
Villa corner. A long goal kick from Guzan isn't properly cleared by the Saints defence and N'Zogbia's shot is deflected wide. Poor corner.
29'
Yet again it's another Southampton attack and they're playing some very good football here. Ramirez and Rodriguez combine after some nice work from Lambert. The ball comes to Puncheon who twists and turns on the edge of the area as he looks to get a shot away. Support arrives in the form of right full-back Nathanial Clyne. Puncheon goes alone and fires his shot high into the crowd behind the goal. Great play up until the finish.
27'
Luke Shaw, the 17-year-old has had a solid game so far for Southampton and he has just fired a shot wide of the goal from the left after a Saints corner. Paul Lambert has sent Agbonlahor, Ireland and Bannan to warm up.
24'
As soon as Villa clear they breakaway too. Some Holman attacks the left-flank for the Villans but some superb defender from young Luke Shaw prevents the Saints from further trouble. It ends with a Villa corner that is easily cleared by the away team.
23'
End to end stuff once again here. Villa attack with Benteke on the right, his cross finds Delph on the edge of the area who runs into trouble and loses possession. Southampton break with Ramirez and Rodriguez but the cross is eventually cleared and danger passes.
21'
This is a good spell for Southampton. Controlling possession. Puncheon turns his man on the right-hand side for the Saints and puts in a dangerous cross. Lambert's header goes just wide.
19'
It's the 19th minute here at Villa Park and both sets of fans show their support for Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov.
16'
Chance for Villa now! Benteke does well down the left-hand side for the Villans, he's fouled but referee Mark Halsey plays a good advantage as the ball falls for N'Zogbia. He weaves in and out of the defenders in the penalty area but his cross is poor and it's a goal kick for Southampton.
14'
Curse of the commentator! Southampton on the attack but Schneiderlin's cross is cleared by Clark for Villa. It was another chance for the Saints there, but the ball in just wasn't quite good enough.
13'
Well, after a bright opening 10 minutes, the game has calmed down slightly with the majority of the action coming in the middle of the field.
10'
Fabian Delph has made a good start for the Villans and his long range pass looking for Holman just creeps out of play. The Saints have a throw-in deep in their own half on the right-hand side.
9'
Southampton come forward now, they're almost taking it in turns to attack here! The bright young full-back Shaw wins a free kick after some good work following a throw in on the left hand side. The free kick is taken by Schneiderlin but it floats harmlessly into the arms of Villa keeper Brad Guzan.
6'
Villa come forward again with Holman feeding Benteke but some good defending from Clyne sees the attack come to a halt. Villa look bright here, with Christian Benteke and Charles N'Zogbia looking very lively in this opening five minutes.
3'
N'Zogbia with the corner but it's easily cleared. Villa come forward again, Delph twisting his way through a few half-hearted challenges by the Saints defenders. The ball comes to Benteke who earns Villa another corner. A frantic opening here!
2'
It's been a very bright start for the Saints and they have a corner after some nice play from Ramirez and Lambert. Ramirez takes the corner but it's cleared before Lambert can reach it. Villa break and now they have a corner!
1'
And Mark Halsey blows his whistle with Southampton, in yellow, getting us underway here at a cold Villa Park.
Good afternoon and welcome to Goal.com's coverage of today's live game from Villa Park where Aston Villa entertain Southampton. It's Matt Hill here and I'll be guiding you through the game. If you want to tweet your thoughts as the match progresses send them to @matty_hill
Just a point separates the two sides who are hovering above the relegation zone. To use the old cliché, this one really is a six-pointer!
Team news to follow...
The Saints line up as follows: Boruc, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Shaw, Clyne, Cork, Schneiderlin, Puncheon, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Lambert.
And finally, on the bench today for Southampton this afternoon: S Davis, K Davis, Fox, Ward-Prowse, Lee, Seaborne, De Ridder.
Aston Villa line up as follows: Guzan, Clark, Stevens, Baker, Lowton, Holman, Weimann, Westwood, Delph, N’Zogbia, Benteke.
Subs: Marshall, Vlaar, Ireland, Lichaj, Agbonlahor, Bowery, Bannan.
Kick off is just a couple minutes away now at Villa Park. There are a fair few empty seats in the stadium too.
Aston Villa are the joint-lowest Premier League scorers having found the back of the net just 17 times. Those Villa fans that have made it today will hoping Benteke returns to form.
What an entertaining first 45 minutes at Villa Park. Southampton thoroughly deserving of their lead although I'm convinced there was no contact for the penalty. Mark Halsey awarded it and up stepped Rickie Lambert to fire it home.
Villa manager Paul Lambert must be tearing his hair out at his team's defending. The Villans have a lot of work on to save this game. Looking at his substitutes bench, Lambert has Stephen Ireland and Gabriel Agbonlahor who could swing the game in their favour. Will he use them?
Nigel Adkins will be delighted by the way his Southampton side have played in this first half. He'll want more of the same in the second 45.
Another disappointing day for the Aston Villa fans. They've failed to score yet again and it's defeat at the hands of Southampton who leapfrog them in the table.
Southampton fully deserved their 1-0 victory at Villa Park. Their goal game courtesy of a controversial penalty. Having seen replays, there is no contact as Jay Rodriguez goes down. Villa will feel aggrieved but they didn't really get going until the second half when Barry Bannan entered the fray.
It's misery for Lambert but joy for Adkins. His side were the better team and he'll be delighted with his team's performance today. A fantastic away win for the Saints.
And there we have it. A very entertaining game here at Villa Park. Thanks for joining us this afternoon. It's finished Aston Villa 0-1 Southampton.
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