Roy Hodgson said there is still “a long way to go” this season despite claiming his first win as Watford manager.
Villa dominated but Watford grabbed all three points when Emmanuel Dennis powered home Ismaila Sarr’s 78th-minute cross after an opportunistic counter-attack.
It ended the visitors’ four-game goal drought and lifted them up to 18th in the Premier League, four points from safety.
“The danger now is that we think we’ve cracked it and that what we needed to do between now and the end of the season has been done,” Hodgson told BBC Match of the Day. “There’s such a long way to go.”
‘We’re going to need strong performances’
Incredibly, Watford’s past six league away wins have come under six different managers.
The managerial merry-go-round has been well reported, and Hodgson already seemed under pressure coming into this fixture after collecting just one point from an available nine since taking charge in January.
As the game went on, Watford were on course to drop to the bottom of the table and looked set to equal a club record of five consecutive games without a goal.
“We’re going to need strong performances,” said Hodgson.
“[We need] people who are prepared to chase back a bit more than they’re used to doing. [We need people] to put their foot into challenges a bit more than they’re used to doing.”
Watford soaked up plenty of Villa pressure and twice went close through Dennis and Moussa Sissoko on the break.
Sarr, starting his first match since winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, created the winner, chipping the ball up for Dennis to nod in.
Watford held on for their first victory in 12 matches, since beating Manchester United 4-1 in November.
“That’s what we’ve got to do if we are to get any more points,” said Hodgson. “We’re quite divorced from the teams above us.”
‘Villa not good enough’
Having started his reign at Villa with four wins from six matches, manager Steven Gerrard has now seen them lose four of their past eight.
They are closer to the relegation zone than they are to European place.
“The results are the same. That’s the reality so the feelings are the same,” Gerrard told Match of the Day.
“I am very much aware of our recent form. We’ve taken one point from the last three from teams behind us.”
Villa should have gone in front in the 34th minute when Danny Ings struck the base of the right post when clean through after a good move from Emi Buendia.
They continued to create half-chances, with Phillipe Coutinho curling a looping effort on to the roof of the net midway through the second half. But once they fell behind the opportunities dried up.
Despite coming into this fixture as one of three teams to have scored in every home game this season, Villa failed to find a leveller and stay 12th in the table.
“We just need to keep believing in ourselves and stick together,” said Gerrard.
“We need to have more quality in the final third – that was clear today. We’ve only had one shot on target. That’s not good enough at home.”
Villa face Brighton next Saturday, while Watford will host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Player of the match
FosterBen Foster
Aston Villa
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Squad number23Player namePhilippe CoutinhoAverage rating
5.74
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Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
5.59
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Squad number1Player nameMartínez
Average rating5.59
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Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey
Average rating5.29
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Squad number10Player nameBuendía
Average rating5.03
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Squad number2Player nameCash
Average rating4.95
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Squad number27Player nameDigne
Average rating4.92
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Squad number16Player nameChambers
Average rating4.90
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Squad number20Player nameIngs
Average rating4.84
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Squad number5Player nameMings
Average rating4.66
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Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Average rating4.63
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Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Average rating4.51
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Squad number31Player nameBailey
Average rating3.77
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Squad number18Player nameYoung
Average rating3.75
Watford
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Squad number1Player nameFosterAverage rating
7.77
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Squad number29Player nameCucho HernándezAverage rating
7.61
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Squad number27Player nameKabaseleAverage rating
7.51
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Squad number25Player nameDennisAverage rating
7.50
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Squad number23Player nameSarrAverage rating
7.16
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Squad number7Player nameKingAverage rating
6.92
-
Squad number12Player nameSemaAverage rating
6.91
-
Squad number19Player nameSissokoAverage rating
6.81
-
Squad number14Player nameKamaraAverage rating
6.77
-
Squad number15Player nameCathcartAverage rating
6.75
-
Squad number22Player nameSamirAverage rating
6.69
-
Squad number6Player nameLouzaAverage rating
6.68
-
Squad number8Player nameCleverleyAverage rating
6.65
-
Squad number21Player nameKiko FemeníaAverage rating
6.64
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Martínez
- 2CashBooked at 58minsSubstituted forYoungat 65′minutes
- 16Chambers
- 5Mings
- 27Digne
- 7McGinn
- 6Douglas LuizSubstituted forWatkinsat 58′minutes
- 41J Ramsey
- 10BuendíaSubstituted forBaileyat 71′minutes
- 20Ings
- 23Coutinho
Substitutes
- 8Sanson
- 11Watkins
- 18Young
- 25Olsen
- 30Hause
- 31Bailey
- 33Chukwuemeka
- 45Chrisene
- 47Iroegbunam
Watford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Foster
- 21Femenía
- 15Cathcart
- 22SamirSubstituted forKabaseleat 90+3′minutes
- 14KamaraBooked at 82mins
- 19Sissoko
- 6Louza
- 8Cleverley
- 23SarrBooked at 66minsSubstituted forHernándezat 90+3′minutes
- 7King
- 25DennisSubstituted forSemaat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ngakia
- 5Troost-Ekong
- 11Masina
- 12Sema
- 26Bachmann
- 27Kabasele
- 28Kalu
- 29Hernández
- 39Kayembe
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Aston Villa 0, Watford 1.
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Second Half ends, Aston Villa 0, Watford 1.
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Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Aston Villa) header from a difficult angle on the left misses to the left. Assisted by John McGinn with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Imrân Louza.
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Ashley Young (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Ken Sema (Watford).
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Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joshua King (Watford).
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Foul by Calum Chambers (Aston Villa).
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Christian Kabasele (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Christian Kabasele.
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Substitution, Watford. Christian Kabasele replaces Samir because of an injury.
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Substitution, Watford. Cucho Hernández replaces Ismaïla Sarr.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Craig Cathcart.
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Attempt blocked. Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashley Young with a cross.
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Foul by Danny Ings (Aston Villa).
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Samir (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joshua King (Watford).
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Substitution, Watford. Ken Sema replaces Emmanuel Dennis because of an injury.
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