Soccer-Villa substitutes strike late to overcome Southampton resistance

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Aston Villa - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 12, 2025 Southampton's Jan Bednarek fouls Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins to concede penalty REUTERS/Ian Walton

SOUTHAMPTON, England (Reuters) -Aston Villa had to rely on substitutes Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen and John McGinn to give them a 3-0 away win at relegated Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Watkins scored in the 73rd minute and Malen six minutes later after both came on midway through the second half to help lift Villa to fifth in the standings.