U23 Report: Saints 0-1 Villa

Jack Clarke netted the decider in the 74th minute, heading home at the back post after good work down the right from Corey Taylor.

A tight affair, Saints had plenty of chances of their own before the visitors broke the deadlock, but were left to rue missed opportunities after the Midlands outfit snatched all three points midway through the second period.

It means that Villa leapfrog Radhi Jaïdi's youngsters in the table, but still with plenty to play for in these early stages of the campaign.

The hosts threatened for large parts of the first half without creating too many clear cut chances.

The best fell to Michael Obafemi, who was twice denied by a combination of crossbar and Villa keeper Matija Sarkic.

The first chance materialised in the 22nd minute, when a smart knockdown from Callum Slattery allowed the striker to swivel in the box, and crash a volleyed effort off the upright.

The second, arguably easier, was a product of Obafemi's pace. Will Smallbone won the ball in midfield, before poking into the path of the forward, who raced past his opposition defender but fired tamely at Sarkic.

The visitors were reduced to glimpses of goal, despite winger Taylor and frontman Rushian Hepburn-Murphy causing problems in patches.

The two were a handful when combining late in the half, but unable to test Saints stopper Jack Rose, who was largely a spectator in the first period.

The second 45 began more openly. Hepburn-Murphy was again a threat, particularly so in the 55th minute when attempting to head Cal O'Hare's cross goalward. Rose managed to intervene, though, and did well to collect the follow up.

Again Obafemi was Saints' best look at an opener, but it was the visitors' pressure that told.

Taylor used quick feet to manoeuvre a yard of space on the edge of the box, before lofting a cross-cum-shot towards the back post, where Clarke made the necessary contact with his head.

Head to Head Stats

• Possession (%)
  52

  48
• Shots
  11

  11
• Shots on target
  4

  2
• Corners
  6

  3
• Passes Complete
  342

  319