Watford’s revival under new manager Nigel Pearson continued as the Hornets survived being reduced to 10 men to beat relegation rivals Aston Villa 3-0 and move within three points of safety.

The Hornets played for more than half an hour with 10 men after defender Adrian Mariappa was sent off following two yellow cards in the space of six minutes.

Watford were leading 1-0 when Mariappa was sent off - Hornets captain Troy Deeney reacting quickest to slot home after Tom Heaton had palmed away Abdoulaye Doucoure’s shot following a mistake by Ezri Konsa.

Deeney doubled the lead from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Douglas Luiz before the impressive Ismaila Sarr added the third from Etienne Capoue’s cross.

Villa were upset the penalty for Watford’s second goal was awarded as defender Matt Targett was down injured, while the visitors were also aggrieved about the third goal as they felt Jack Grealish was fouled by Capoue in the build-up.

However, Sarr’s goal was allowed to stand after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

Villa in trouble

Aston Villa will start 2020 in the relegation zone and with pressure building on manager Dean Smith, who only signed a new four-year contract in November.

While they were unhappy with the penalty and the build-up to the third goal, they were abject and rarely looked like capitalising on the man advantage.

With the game goalless, Wesley was denied by a superb save by Ben Foster yet they mustered just two attempts on target despite playing for more than half an hour with an extra player.

Wesley has not scored in his past 12 league matches, and Spanish forward Jota, who made a rare start, rarely looked like troubling a well-drilled Watford defence.

Villa have troubles at the back too. England defender Tyrone Mings was missing for the fifth successive game with a hamstring injury and Villa have not kept a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League since January 2016.

With problems mounting up, fans will be hoping Smith can land some of his targets in the January transfer window.

Watford improving under Pearson

Watford have had a chaotic season, with managers coming and going, an 8-0 thrashing at Manchester City and a long relegation battle.

Yet their polished performance against troubled Villa provided further evidence things are changing for the better.

The Hornets look refreshed and reborn under Pearson.

Having secured just one top-flight win in 16 games before the arrival of the former Leicester City boss earlier this month, Watford have since taken seven points from four games.

While Deeney will get the plaudits for his two goals, Sarr was outstanding, using his pace to torment Villa’s defence and score his side’s third goal.

Despite Mariappa’s dismissal - his first in 158 top-flight appearances - they played with confidence and belief against Villa, which suggests they have an appetite for the battle ahead.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith:

“I read the players the riot act at half-time. We weren’t good enough. We lost the game in the first half. We created the best chance before the break, Wesley should probably score.

“Their work-rate was better than ours, which is the biggest disappointment. In the second half, we started to get on the front foot but didn’t create chances.

“When the other team go down to 10 men and the score is 1-0, you’ve got a chance but unfortunately other incidents happened and they scored a second and third.”
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*BBC Sport*
*Saturday, 28 December 2019*

Dean Smith: Aston Villa boss urges referees to use pitchside monitors

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith wants referees to use pitchside VAR monitors after his side’s 3-0 defeat at Watford.

Watford scored twice after having Adrian Mariappa sent off but Smith said both goals should not have counted.

Troy Deeney made it 2-0 with a penalty awarded as Villa defender Matt Targett lay injured while Smith claimed Jack Grealish was fouled before Ismaila Sarr’s goal.

“The referee could look at the screen but doesn’t,” Smith told BBC Sport.

Premier League referees’ chief Mike Riley has cautioned against their use by on-field officials because of the additional delay it would cause.

That goes against Uefa guidance and Smith, whose side are in the relegation zone, wants the league to change its stance.

“There’s a screen the fella [referee] can walk over to, look at the incident and say ‘I made a boo boo’,” added Smith.

“But we don’t do that in the Premier League. We go to Stockley Park [where VAR is based] where they haven’t got a feel for the game. They just make a decision looking at one incident.”

Targett was down injured when Deeney, who opened the scoring in the first half, was fouled by Douglas Luiz for the penalty before scoring from the spot.

Smith was also unhappy with Etienne Capoue’s challenge on Grealish in the build-up to the third goal - Capoue delivering the assist for Sarr to score.

“Matt Targett goes down with a hamstring injury,” added Smith, who signed a new four-year contract last month.

“I understand officials can only stop play because of a head injury. Jack Grealish doesn’t know Targett has done his hamstring. We lose the ball and Watford play on.

“I still don’t think it should be a penalty. It was shoulder to shoulder and Deeney goes down easily. Targett is playing Deeney onside, sitting on the floor.

“For the third goal, Jack Grealish gets fouled in front of us. The fourth official says their player got the ball but he doesn’t.

“It goes to Stockley Park - again no feel for the game. The referee could look at the screen but doesn’t.

“I’m frustrated with that but more frustrated with the players.”