EPL: Aston Villa title hopes dented by 1-0 home defeat to Everton

Aston Villa’s Premier League title ambitions suffered a major setback on Sunday following a 1-0 loss to Everton, while Newcastle United’s push for a top-four finish was stalled by a goalless draw away at Wolves.

Unai Emery’s side missed the opportunity to cut the gap on league leaders Arsenal to four points after a flat display at Villa Park, where Thierno Barry’s second-half strike sealed victory for Everton.

After Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the Gunners now sit seven points clear of third-placed Villa. Second-placed Manchester City are also seven points behind the leaders following their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.

Arsenal, chasing their first league title since 2004, tightened their grip on the title race as both City and Villa stumbled over the weekend.

Villa’s problems were compounded when captain John McGinn was forced off with a first-half injury. The defeat also ended Villa’s impressive run of 11 straight home wins in all competitions.

Everton nearly stunned the hosts inside 11 seconds when Merlin Rohl took advantage of sloppy defending and struck the post. Former Villa favourite Jack Grealish, now with Everton, was loudly jeered by the home crowd and almost responded with a goal-bound volley that was blocked by Evann Guessand.

Jake O’Brien thought he had given Everton the lead with a header from a corner, but the effort was ruled out for offside against Harrison Armstrong.

Villa came close just before the break when Youri Tielemans delivered a cross that Guessand headed onto the crossbar, but Emery’s side lacked sharpness in attack.

They were punished in the 59th minute after Pau Torres lost possession just outside his own area. Dwight McNeil fired a shot that Emiliano Martinez parried into Barry’s path, and the striker chipped home from close range for his third goal in five matches.

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford ensured the win with a fine save, tipping over Morgan Rogers’ curling effort late on, as Villa slipped to just one victory in their last four league games.

Newcastle held at Wolves

At a rain-soaked Molineux, Newcastle failed to break down a resolute Wolves side and had to settle for a 0-0 draw.

Eddie Howe’s team had boosted their Champions League qualification hopes with recent wins over Burnley, Crystal Palace and Leeds, but they remain eighth after failing to beat bottom-placed Wolves.

The result followed Newcastle’s disappointing 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the League Cup semi-final first leg earlier in the week.

“We needed to do more in attack. I expected us to do better and create more,” Howe said.
“Football is such a strange game. We scored four against Leeds and looked free-scoring, but today we struggled.”

Newcastle did not manage a shot on target until the 85th minute, while Nick Woltemade extended his goal drought to seven games, having scored only twice in 13 appearances after missing two good headed chances.

With crucial league games against top-four rivals Aston Villa and Liverpool approaching, Howe’s side will need to rediscover their form quickly.

Wolves, meanwhile, are unbeaten in four league matches but remain 14 points adrift of safety.

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