Danny Ings is having a stormer. The forward chases back and is one of a posse of Southampton players to nick the ball away from Villa's Jack Grealish.

Grealish is cutting a pretty frustrated figure at present. It's not been his or Villa's day so far.

Kit Holder: I’ve backed Dean Smith but it is time to get Villa a manager with experience of a Premier League survival battle. No point holding on to a top Championship manager ready for when we go back down!

Ash: Villa have money, size, history and infrastructure, they shouldn't be where they are. Bring in Rafa Benitez and back him to the hills and this is coming from a Birmingham City fan!

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Just a quick word on Danny Ings...

The forward is only the third Saints player to score 10 goals or more in a Premier League season before Christmas, emulating Matt Le Tissier in 1994-95 and James Beattie in 2002-03.

Dean Smith has seen enough. Jonathan Kodjia replaces Conor Hourihane for Villa. He bagged two in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday - what can he do today?

Video Assistant Refereepublished at 55 mins

55 mins

Aston Villa 0-3 Southampton

Big claim from Villa forward Wesley for a pen. Did the ball come off Jack Stephens' arm?

Nope nothing doing for the hosts.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl looks absolutely buoyant in the technical area and who can blame him.

There was even a little fist pump from the Austrian when Danny Ings bagged his second goal of the game.

Not sure the Aston Villa fans will be too bothered about Manchester United Aamer.

Aamer Iqbal: This would be Villa's fourth defeat in a row in the League, following the well deserved point at Old Trafford. What does that say about Man United?

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The bad news if you're an Aston Villa fan is that their team has tended to be more of a first-half team this season.

Villa have conceded 22 goals after the break this term, which is the most by any side in the division so far.

Here we go again.

Jon Evans: If I was Smith I would move Grealish back into midfield, must be clear that the midfield isn't working with him further forward. Drop Wesley for Kodjia if possible as JK's movement offers more. Think those two changes will make a big difference.

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No idea what Dean Smith will be saying to his Villa players at the interval but I'd expect a few expletives after that.

Will it bring a reaction in the second half though?

I'd imagine Ralph Hasenhuttl's message will be very simple - 'more of the same please chaps'.

John Fell: You've got to feel for the Villa fans. The club are going straight back down. Awful defensively and, without John McGinn, no attacking threat.

As it stands Aston Villa could suffer four consecutive league defeats for the first time since a run of five in February 2017 in the Championship.

Big improvement required in the second half.

Theo Bradley: Villa are beginning to fail at defending with Mings out. Terrible so far. This is a game we should be winning!

Boos ring out at Villa Park. The locals aren't happy at the break.

Talk about trying to end the half on a high note. Frederic Guilbert has had a bit of a nightmare so far but the French right back goes close to pulling a goal back for Villa, with a 25-yarder.

Alex McCarthy does well to tip that over for the Saints.