Premier League Sunday Match Update : Aston Villa Win, Arsenal Drop Points
Aaron Danks enjoyed a winning start to life as interim Aston Villa manager, as goals either side of the break gave the West Midlands outfit a confidence-boosting 4-0 victory over Brentford, ending a run of four Premier League outings without a win.
Having needed 466 minutes to score the final three goals of the Steven Gerrard era, Villa’s dream start to this crucial clash was as surprising as it was thrilling.
Few could have predicted such an emphatic end to Villa’s wretched run of eight matches without a win against Brentford, with the ‘new manager bounce’ in full flow for the hosts.
As for Brentford, this result will do little to calm the nerves surrounding boss Thomas Frank’s uncertain future, especially with reports linking the Danish manager to the Villa hotseat.
Leeds United are now winless in eight Premier League matches after surrendering the lead in a 3-2 defeat to Fulham at Elland Road, heaping further pressure on manager Jesse Marsch.
After their 3-0 success in midweek over Aston Villa spelled the end of Steven Gerrard’s reign, Fulham were looking to push a second manager over the edge in the space of three days. Leeds started postively, but were indebted to Marc Roca’s heroic goalline clearance to keep scores level, as the Spaniard slid to block Harrison Reed’s effort on the line.
Crysencio Summerville’s late consolation couldn’t prevent Leeds falling into the relegation zone after a sixth defeat in eight matches, currently enduring their worst start to a top-flight season since relegation in 2003/04.
Arsenal dropped points for just the second time this season, drawing 1-1 with Southampton at St Mary’s. In the process, the Saints picked up just their second home win in eight league games.
When these two sides last met in April, Arsenal all but surrendered their hopes of UEFA Champions League qualification, but this meeting had a very different complexion.
As for Southampton, a point against the current league leaders will feel like a win for Ralph Hasenhuttl, especially given their recent home struggles.
Leicester City secured their first away win in the Premier League this season, thumping a blunt Wolverhampton Wanderers side 4-0 to move out of the relegation zone.
In a Midlands clash between two sides desperate to escape the dropzone, it was Wolves who instantly stepped onto the front foot with an early onslaught of set pieces. As the story of their season so far goes, however, they failed to make their early pressure count, allowing Leicester City to take the lead in unbelievable fashion.
The 4-0 thumping leaves Wolves 19th and with three losses in their last four games. Leicester, meanwhile, now sit 16th, having won at the Molineux for the first time in five games.
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