NewStats: 3,265,202 , 8,185,987 topics. Date: Friday, 13 June 2025 at 08:33 PM 1c4856

Vila beat Lfc.

The joy Aston Villa felt at reaching Sunday's Carabao Cup final could well be morphing into fear of humiliation after this morale-sapping defeat by Southampton.

Villa boss Dean Smith was furious and embarrassed about this capitulation. It was his side's third loss in a row since they beat Leicester to reach Sunday's Wembley showpiece against holders Manchester City.

That Villa's defeat came against injury-hit Southampton — who have just four home league wins this term — is concerning enough. But it is the manner of defeat that will really sting.
Southampton overran Villa, who lacked heart and struggled with the basics. Saints were ahead inside 10 minutes and it could have been done and dusted by then. They went on to have a whopping 28 shots.

Villa did little to help themselves. A tendency to overplay at the back put them under pressure against a side who press relentlessly, while a disorganised defence — the worst in the division — relied on last-ditch lunges and poor finishing to keep the scoreline respectable.

Smith, who spent much of the game shaking his head, bemoaned too many 'training ground players'. He and assistant John Terry have little time to implement a plan that might contain City.

'I said to the players before the game that we've got 13 cup finals,' Smith said. 'We got deservedly beaten. I can't change what's happened. It's what we do now to get them ready for the next game.'

It is tough to know where to start. Pepe Reina, 37, made some fine saves, thwarting Danny Ings, Moussa Djenepo, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Che Adams. But with the sublime came the ridiculous: calamitous clearances, frequent miscommunications and a comical misread of Hojbjerg's long ball that led to a grapple with Shane Long outside the box, for which he escaped with a booking.
In front of the shaky Spaniard, Tyrone Mings had the air of a captain going down with his ship. Restored to the team after tonsillitis, he put his head where it hurts, making blocks and deflecting Will Smallbone's shot on to a post. One man can only do so much. 'We'll figure it out behind closed doors,' Mings said.

'The last thing we need to do is fracture and lose faith in each other, so we'll prepare for the final and it might be a welcome distraction from the league.' Or it might be another dent in their already fragile confidence.

Villa fell behind after Ezri Konsa clocked off. The enjoyably unpredictable Djenepo refused to give up on a loose ball and crossed for Long, who beat Reina at his near post. Given all the talk about his strike partner Ings, Long is quietly enjoying a pleasing patch, scoring his third in six games here.

In midfield, the lightweight pairing of Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba were outwitted by Hojbjerg and Smallbone, a 20-year-old academy product making his Premier League debut. If they replicate that on Sunday, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva will have a field day.

Mancity to win

Okay

Lordjb:
Okay

Mancity will wallop Aston Villa

Omooba77:


Mancity will wallop Aston Villa

wait first make match end

Another silverware

Man city 5 the other club 0...no tell anybody o

If mancity no win make my ancestors die

Who get sure odds?

Manchester is blue.

Ok

I thought Man City was to play Arsenals in the premier league today, how did all these change?

May the favoured team win the game!

..

Haters of pep will soon flood here to criticise while their Teams is yet to secure any Final.
Anybody that says pep buys his success with money should that the English you're typing today was obtain through learning and you paid for it via school fees. Money makes the world go round. Without money ordinary malaria can kill you. Pep remains the best take it or leave it

Hi

rectitude:
I thought Man City was to play Arsenals in the premier league today, how did all these change?

yes , buh the match was canceled.Pep decided to pity his boy(arteta) cus he's already going tru alot....

MANCHESTER CITY STRAIGHT WIN.. THESE GUYS ARE BALLERS...

City should will convincingly but Liverpool ystd match made me to this is football

Aston villa for carabo while man city wins the champions league
... Thats my wish amen.

Which dish will show this match

We are winning dis cup. Back2back. We are d best in england. Up Mancity

zionema:
Aston villa for carabo while man city wins the champions league
... Thats my wish amen.

enemy of progress

rectitude:
I thought Man City was to play Arsenals in the premier league today, how did all these change?

Postponed

helinues:
City should will convincingly but Liverpool ystd match made me to this is football

Football or not, city will thrash villa

zionema:
Aston villa for carabo
while
man city wins the champions league

... Thats my wish amen.

Wins

Man City all the way

Ogbunigwe2018:

Postponed

And if it wasn't postponed? Cos two matches were postponed and I thought Twas due to corona virus



Or it was postponed cos of FA cup?

First trophy for the year, 2 more to go