Everton 0-1 Aston Villa – Premier League result as Ollie Watkins strike proves the difference on David Moyes return

Premier League / Matchday 21

Goodison Park / 15.01.2025

Everton

Finished

Aston Villa

O. Watkins(51')

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REPORT: Ice-cold Ollie Watkins dampens David Moyes' Everton comeback

Ollie Watkins fired Aston Villa to their first Premier League away win since October as David Moyes' industrious Everton couldn't earn the Scot a point on his return.

Watkins had missed a one-on-one effort in the first half, but banished those demons when Morgan Rogers put him through against Jordan Pickford for a second time. The England striker allowed himself time to fashion an angle and rifled his shot under his international teammate to secure a hard-fought win for Aston Villa after Jacob Ramsey and Youri Tielemans had also missed early opportunities.

It could have been very different had Dominic Calvert-Lewin taken his injury-time chance from point-blank range, but stout defending from the visitors earned a rare clean sheet on the road and Moyes was left decrying his side's lack of quality in possession.

Under no illusions about the scale of the challenge facing him at Goodison Park, Moyes' side pushed The Villans hard but couldn't create the opening they needed to snatch a point and could reach the weekend on the verge of the relegation zone if Ipswich win on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa move to just three points shy of the UEFA Champions League places.

Highlights: Watkins fires Villa to victory as Moyes suffers defeat on Everton return

Video credit: TNT Sports

Everton

Moyes proud of effort but pinpoints area to improve

David Moyes saluted his players' commitment against Aston Villa but bemoaned their quality on the ball as they fell to yet anther defeat:

"I didn't think there was an awful lot in the game but I'm under no illusions the job I've got to do. We couldn't score a goal again," Moyes told TNT Sports.

"We tried hard. I thought we had decent control of the game. Aston Villa had one or two better chances in the first half than we had, but I thought we still were right in it and a little bit of a mistake, a little bit out of position cost us the game unfortunately.

"I think we've got to show an awful lot more quality on the ball and play better with the ball.

"I think if anything tonight that I was disappointed in was that part ,and I've told the players that, we just didn't play well enough and didn't play the ball as well as we should've done.

"Well I've not really had time to build on tonight's performance, so I can talk to you and tell you what I think about the game, but it's not really a great deal to do with David Moyes tonight.

"It's a lot to do with the players and what they do. Hopefully in the next few weeks it will be David Moyes' team who's trying to do better. So we'll get the players ready, get them up for the next game on Sunday, so hopefully we can try and go again."

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Aston Villa

Watkins: Villa could've been clinical but win deserved

Ollie Watkins proved the difference and spoke to TNT Sports after sealing Villa's first league win on the road since October:

"It was tricky, definitely tricky. Obviously [with their] new manager, the atmosphere was top to be fair to them and they made it difficult for us, but we ground it out. Obviously I got my goal. We could've been a bit more clinical in the first-half. We had a few chances that fell to us, so I think [it was] a deserved three points."

On Morgan Rogers, Watkins said: "Obviously you can see what he can do, clever player. I just saw that they were wide open on the counter-attack so I saw the space, just ran into it and Morgan's found me.

"I looked at some clips before that they always kind of drop, so I knew there were going to be times like that and space in the game; you just have to be patient and wait for the opportunity."

Watkins hints he needs to be more selfish, pays credit to ‘clever player’ Rogers

Video credit: TNT Sports

Villa gain ground on rivals, missed chance for Toffees

Will we look back on this game as the moment Aston Villa turned a corner in the 2024/25 season?

Ollie Watkins' ice-cool finish ensured Unai Emery's side broke a winless streak away from home in the Premier League dating back to October, while stout defending in Pau Torres' absence earned a first clean league sheet on the road since April in a must-win game for The Villans.

With a hectic schedule across three competitions in the next month, including games against Arsenal, Tottenham, Celtic and Monaco plus a West Midlands derby against Wolves, Watkins buried the demons of a wayward golden opportunity in the first-half to earn a much-needed three points

Newcastle and Arsenal are the only other top-eight sides to win in this bumper midweek set of fixtures, meaning Aston Villa sit just three points off the top four and only trail Manchester City on goal difference.

Everton were second-best at Goodison Park but not by much, and certainly had chances to snatch a draw - Dominic Calvert-Lewin will surely rue his injury-time opportunity, but he enjoyed an otherwise impressive game leading the line with limited support.

However, the baton now passes to Ipswich who play Brighton tomorrow, with the chance to leapfrog Everton and push them to the verge of the relegation zone.

Watkins runs onto fine Rogers pass to break deadlock for Villa at Everton

Video credit: TNT Sports

FULL TIME: EVERTON 0-1 ASTON VILLA

And that's as good as it gets for Everton! They showed plenty of positive signs on David Moyes' return but Aston Villa snap their barren run on the road and were good value for three points thanks to that Ollie Watkins strike.

90+2'

HAD TO SCORE!

THAT WAS THE MOMENT! Lindstrom finds space on the right of the box and nudges it across to Calvert-Lewin, but he can't control his shot and it flies over! If that was on target then Everton are surely level, but the bouncing ball proved a cruel mistress.

90'

Four added minutes

Konsa clears a cross with a towering header but this is better from the hosts, who need will have the chance to find another opening.

89'

Last chance saloon

The slight Ndiaye does superbly to hold up the ball long enough to direct play to the open left-side of the field, and though Mykolenko can't drive towards the penalty area, Everton retain the ball and can build again.

86'

Fizzling out?

It's so frustrating as the losing side when so much play in the closing 10 minutes takes place in your own half. And that's the situation as the clock ticks down here - Villa are just controlling play.

83'

Beto and O'Brien enter the fray

And another 23-year-old is on for Everton, Jake O'Brien impressed in the FA Cup while Beto is Everton's most-used substitute this season. Doucoure and Young have been withdrawn.

80'

Ramsey makes way

Called it. The 23-year-olds receives a huge thump of approval from Emery for a job well done, Emi Buendia will hope to see the job out while Moyes is preparing more tweaks of his own.

77'

Reinforcements coming?

The hosts continue to run the show but it nearly backfires when Watkins intercepts a pass and looks to pin his ears back.

While the back four recover well and he opts to turn it back into midfield, it's a reminder of the threat that Villa still possess on the counter-attack - don't forget there's Jhon Duran and Leon Bailey waiting in the wings too.

73'

Open goal!

Was that the moment?!? Martinez overcommits himself hopelessly chasing the outswinging corner that drops to Branthwaite, yet Villa somehow scramble it clear with the net gaping.

Everton recycle and Ashley Young sends in another dangerous delivery that the centre-back controls well, but he can't make space to shoot.

72'

Better from the Toffees

That's their longest period of possession, and despite Matty Cash holding Ndiaye for about 20 seconds, the Senegalese star manages to win a corner.

69'

Villa fighting back

Everton's surge after going a goal down has dissipated and though Jacob Ramsey can't take advantage of a tough chance there, it's another sign that the visitors are back in the ascendancy.

David Moyes is deep in conversation onto the sideline but he hasn't got too many options from the bench.

64'

WATCH: Watkins fires Villa into the lead

The camera cuts to the newest Villain Donyell Malen watching on from the stands after arriving from Borussia Dortmund - he must like what he's seeing so far.

However, Ollie Watkins reminded the Dutchman that he'll have plenty of competition for a starting berth with this strike:

Watkins runs onto fine Rogers pass to break deadlock for Villa at Everton

Video credit: TNT Sports

60'

Scores on the doors

Isak's hit another for Newcastle while Jean-Philippe Mateta has broken the deadlock for Crystal Palace. But the best of the action has been at the Emirates Stadium as Leandro Trossard and a Dominic Solanke own-goal have turned the game on its head:

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60'

First change

David Moyes' last Everton substitution was Nikica Jelavic for Steven Naismith just six minutes before Fernando hit the winner for Chelsea in 2013 - he'll hope this can have a better impact as Jesper Lindstrom replaces Jack Harrison.

It's a promising start - Lindstrom is one of three Toffees to hit the deck at a corner and VAR is investigating.

58'

Period of pressure

Everton MUST strike while they have the initiative. They've dominated possession since the goal but can't create the opening to equalise, yet and Jordan Pickford is booked for dissent.

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