Aston Villa 0-1 Burnley: Danny Ings heads winner on farewell appearance

Danny Ings marked what is likely to be his final appearance for Burnley by scoring the winning goal as they beat Aston Villa 1-0 at Villa Park.

The striker headed the only goal of the game in  the sixth minute to ensure Sean Dyche’s men a victory in their last Premier League game before returning to the Championship.

Villa, meanwhile, must regroup as they prepare for an FA Cup final clash with Arsenal next weekend after looking short of ideas for much of the game.

Neither side had really got going as Ings leap to head Burnley in front in the sixth minute. Kieran Trippier’s cross from the right was headed out by Leandro Bacuna, Fredrik Ulvestad headed it back into the box, Ashley Barnes nodded it across and Ings powered it beyond Jed Steer in the Villa goal.

Villa pushed to find an equaliser but struggled to create any chances of note and it was Burnley who should have doubled their lead midway through the half.

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George Boyd had the freedom of the right flank and having finally been confronted by Nathan Baker, twisted and turned the centre-back before clipping in a cross. Ings met it on the volley but was unable to control it as the ball sailed high and wide of the target.

Tim Sherwood’s men slowly gained the upper hand as the half wore on, despite some impressive pressing from the away side, and Christian Benteke twice went close to drawing them level.

First, controlling a Bacuna cross on his chest before swivelling to volley goalwards with a slight deflection taking the ball past the post before forcing Tom Heaton into action with a firm header shortly afterwards.

Heaton had to be alert right at the end of the first half to tip Ashley Westwood’s acrobatic effort over the bar.

The hosts then flew out of the traps at the start of the second half, exploiting any space in the middle of the park and breaking with speed through Fabian Delph, Tom Cleverley and Gabby Agbonlahor in particular.

However, they were still unable to fashion any really clear cut opportunities and Heaton kept them at bay on the occasions when they were able to threaten the Burnley goal.

As the clocked ticked towards 90 minutes Delph and Charles N'Zogbia stung the palms of the Burnley stopper before the former shot inches wide with Heaton unsighted and helpless.

The visitors had chances on the break with the best of them falling to Boyd after clever work from Ings. Steer got down well to block the shot though and despite Villa continue to push forward, Burnley held on the end the season with a win.

Player ratings

Aston Villa: Steer (6); Bacuna (6), Vlaar (6), Baker (5), N'Zogbia (5); Cleverley (5), Westwood (6), Delph (7); Grealish (5), Agbonlahor (6), Benteke (6).

Subs: Sinclair (5), Hutton (5).

Burnley: Heaton (7); Trippier (6), Keane (6), Shackell (7), Mee (6); Boyd (7), Arfield (6), Jones (6), Ulvestad (6); Barnes (5); Ings (8).

Subs: Vokes (5), Taylor (5), Reid (N/A).

Man of the match: Danny Ings