- Villa without a win in 13
- Ighalo scores eighth goal in PL
- Gomes seriously injured
- Watford up to 11th
Watford beat Aston Vila 3-2 at Villa Park on Saturday with the Hornets heaping more misery on Villa and their new manager Remi Garde.
Quique Sanchez Flores’ side went 1-0 up through Odion Ighalo’s fine finish but Micah Richards headed home to make it 1-1 at the break. In the second half an own goal from Alan Hutton restored Watford’s lead and Troy Deeney added another before Jordan Ayew scored to make it 3-2 but Villa couldn’t find an equalizer.
With the defeat Villa remain winless in 13 and rooted to the bottom of the Premier League on five points. As for Watford, they rise up to 11th place on 19 points.
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After an even start Watford began to pose a real threat in the final third and they deservedly went ahead in the 17th minute. A sustained spell of pressure saw the ball drop to Ben Watson 25-yards out and his volley found Ighalo who tucked home his eighth goal of the PL season. 1-0 to the Hornets.
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The visitors should have been 2-0 up after Deeney played in Etienne Capoue but he hit his shot straight at Brad Guzan who stood tall. At the other end Ayew forced Heurelho Gomes into a smart save down low and then somehow managed to drag an effort wide from six-yards out with a chance eerily similar to Ighalo’s opener. Before half time Villa pushed hard with Ayew and Scott Sinclair going close and then captain Richards headed home a pinpoint free kick from Jordan Veretout to make it 1-1. Game on.
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In the second half Villa started well but there was a lengthy delay as Gomes suffered a serious looking injury when colliding with his own player Craig Cathcart. Gomes was stretchered off the pitch with oxygen and Giedrius Arlauskis came on to make his Premier League debut.
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Watford then went ahead as the ball was played through to Ighalo in the box and as Hutton went to make the tackle he poked the ball past his own goalkeeper and into the net. 2-1 to Watford and it was soon 3-1 as Ighalo’s shot was blocked and looped up into the air for Deeney to head home.
Villa had hope late on following Ayew’s tremendous finish from the edge of the box to make it 3-2 and despite 10 minutes of stoppage added on, Watford looked the more likely to score another as Flores’ side heaped more pressure on struggling Villa who haven’t won since the opening day of the season.