Aston Villa 2-3 Watford: Hornets down bottom side at Villa Park

By Gerard Brand

Saturday 28 November 2015 18:39, UK

Watford beat Aston Villa 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at Villa Park to leave the hosts bottom of the Premier League.

Watford took the lead in the 17th minute through Odion Ighalo's close-range finish, before Micah Richards' header brought the hosts level four minutes before the break.

Alan Hutton's own goal put Watford back ahead after the break and former Villa youth player Troy Deeney's header gave the visitors a two-goal cushion.

Jordan Ayew halved the deficit late on, but despite 10 minutes of additional time for an injury to Heurelho Gomes, Villa could not find a leveller.

The result leaves Villa propping up the Premier League with a joint-record low of five points from 14 games, while Watford are up to 11th.

Villa were without midfielder Jack Grealish, dropped by the club as punishment for his off-field behaviour after he was pictured partying following the 4-0 defeat by Everton, but the hosts created plenty of opportunities in the first half.

Ayew, put through on goal at an angle, forced a save out of Gomes after 12 minutes, before Watford opened the scoring.

After Brad Guzan had saved at point-blank range from Ighalo, the Nigerian forward calmly slotted home his eighth of the season as the ball fortuitously fell to him eight yards out from Ben Watson's deflected shot.

Ayew then missed a fine opportunity to bring Villa level five minutes later, but he screwed his effort wide with the entire goal to aim at from eight yards.

Guzan then saved from Etienne Capoue from 12 yards after Carlos Sanchez had needlessly given the ball away, while at the other end Scott Sinclair's curling effort into the top corner was tipped wide by Gomes.

Villa got their equaliser in the 41st minute through Richards, scoring his first goal for the club from Jordan Veretout's free-kick by heading into the top corner past the rooted Gomes. Replays did however show Richards was inches offside from Veretout's cross.

The second half started with less action, but Watford were back ahead in bizarre fashion on 69 minutes, Hutton sliding the ball into his own net from Deeney's through ball as Ighalo looked to get ahead of the defender.

Gomes then collided with Craig Cathcart in the area, and was treated with oxygen and brought off on a stretcher after an eight-minute stoppage.

He was taken straight to a hospital in Birmingham after complaining of severe neck pains, but did not lose consciousness, and was allowed to return home with the squad after a precautionary scan.

Boyhood Birmingham City fan Deeney made it 3-1 with five minutes remaining, getting up ahead of a pondering Ciaran Clark to head into the bottom corner past Guzan after Ighalo's effort had looped into the air.

Ayew fired superbly into the bottom corner from 18 yards in stoppage time to halve the deficit for Villa, but Watford held on for their fifth win of the season.

Soccer Saturday verdict - Matt Le Tissier

I just think [the fans after booing at full time] were disappointed after another home defeat. Disappointed that they were second best. I think Watford thoroughly deserved three points in this game.

They looked the better side and always looked threatening on the counter. They just had more quality in the forward positions. Villa did have a lot of possession.

They created more than they have done in the past, but defensively, it's not good. They give possession away far too often in their own half.

Player ratings

Aston Villa: Guzan (6), Hutton (4), Richards (6), Clark (4), Richardson (5), Gana (5), Veretout (6), Sanchez (5), Gil (5), Ayew (6), Sinclair (5)

Subs: Traore (6), Gestede (5)

Watford: Gomes (5), Nyom (6), Britos (6), Cathcart (6), Ake (6); Capoue (6), Watson (7); Paredes (5), Deeney (7), Abdi (6); Ighalo (7)

Subs: Arlauskis (4), Guedioura (6), Anya (6)

Man of the match: Troy Deeney