Southampton, Villa share spoils

Southampton - Spanish substitute Oriol Romeu rescued a point for Southampton in a 1-1 draw at home to Premier League tail-enders Aston Villa on Saturday.

Midfielder Romeu grabbed the equaliser on 73 minutes after Joleon Lescott had opened the scoring for Aston Villa a minute before the break.

Ronald Koeman's side had been looking for a strong response to their crushing 6-1 League Cup defeat to Liverpool at St Mary's - Southampton's worst at home for 56 years.

Koeman recalled fit-again captain Jose Fonte for Steven Caulker in central defence, with James Ward-Prowse in for Jordy Clasie in midfield.

But despite having the best of the first half the hosts had little to show with Duan Tadic, Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle all missing chances.

Villa who got the breakthrough a minute before the break when French midfielder Jordan Veretout set up Lescott to turn in a rare opportunity from a corner.

Italian striker Pelle missed a chance to equalise in the last action of the first half with his header flying to the left.

Remi Garde's Villa were given further chances to pull ahead after the break but two Jordan Ayew efforts went astray.

And it was substitute Romeu who levelled for Southampton ten minutes after coming in for injured Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama.

Ward-Prowse made the cross off a corner with Romeu stabbed in from close range past Bradley Guzan to end Southampton's run of three straight defeats to sit 12th with 21 points from 15 games.

Villa are now 14 league games without a win - a club record - as they remain stuck to the bottom with six points.