Matt Maher gives his take as Aston Villa made it back to back Premier League victories.
Villa's final trip to Goodison Park also marked David Moyes return to Merseyside for a second spell at the club.
It was about Moyes before kick off, but it was Ollie Watkins who spoiled the party as his goal just after the break was enough to hand Villa the spoils.
Villa's final trip to Goodison Park also marked David Moyes return to Merseyside for a second spell at the club.
It was about Moyes before kick off, but it was Ollie Watkins who spoiled the party as his goal just after the break was enough to hand Villa the spoils.
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00:00Good evening from Merseyside where Villa have departed celebrating a 1-0 win over Everton, what was likely to be the club's last ever visit to Goodison Park.
00:13And well, they're going to miss the place Villa, they've not been beaten here since winning promotion back to the Premier League in 2019.
00:21They came here having lost their last five away games in the Premier League.
00:26And to be honest, if that run was going to end anywhere, it was going to end here.
00:30Villa, you know, they enjoy playing at Goodison Park, they enjoy playing Everton.
00:34Not lost to Everton now since winning promotion, it's 12 games.
00:37Oh, there was one cup game, of course, but 12 games in the league, they've not lost to them.
00:44And here at Goodison Park, well, they don't lose, they don't concede goals.
00:47This was their first away clean sheet of the season in the Premier League.
00:52Perhaps no surprise that it happened here.
00:56Yep, David Moyes was back in the dugout for the hosts.
00:59But really, Villa were worthy winners.
01:02There should have been a couple of goals to the good, really, in the first 20 minutes.
01:06Jordan Pickford coming off a really good save to deny Morgan Rodgers.
01:11Uri Tielemans, perhaps, you know, not being ruthless enough in front of goal and seeing an effort blocked by James Tarkowski.
01:17And then Ollie Watkins, putting wide after being put through on goal by his former Villa team-mate, Ashley Young.
01:23But Watkins didn't let his head drop.
01:27He was kept in the side ahead of John Duran.
01:30He was back on the bench, behind the suspension, and he vindicated that decision by Unai Emery by getting the goal.
01:36The only goal of the game, six minutes into the second half.
01:39Great work by Ezri Konza, and then Tielemans to force a mistake from Gerard Brantwaite.
01:44Morgan Rodgers with an excellent through ball, defence-splitting pass.
01:48And Watkins doing the rest, putting the ball past Jordan Pickford.
01:52And Villa were, if not comfortable, you know, they were really uncomfortable since then.
01:59After that point, rather.
02:01And you didn't really see Everton scoring at any point until with about 60 seconds left of stoppage time.
02:06Tyrone Mings had a really good game.
02:09Missed a header for once, cross comes in, Dominic Calvert-Lewin eight yards out, puts it over the bar.
02:15And Villa survive, deservedly so.
02:18Three wins on the bounce to start 2025, and they head to Arsenal on Saturday.
02:23Pretty good spirits.
02:25Two points off fifth.
02:26Season that has, you know, been a bit stop-start.