Deeney’s Double Worsens Aston Villa’s Relegation Woes

Aston Villa’s relegation woes worsened as Troy Deeney’s double helped 10-man Watford to a 3-0 win at Vicarage Road.

Despite Adrian Mariappa’s red card with more than half-an-hour remaining, Watford added to the one-goal lead they held at that point with a Deeney penalty and Ismaila Sarr’s second goal in three games sealing a vital victory for Nigel Pearson’s resurgent side, to pull them back within two points of 18th-placed Villa.

Deeney had put the hosts in front shortly before half-time in a one-sided opening period during which they enjoyed almost 65 per cent of possession and had 11 shots.

Mariappa’s dismissal for a second yellow card in quick succession threatened to undo their good work, but instead they continued to dominate and increased the pressure on Villa, who remain a point inside the bottom three but have now played two games more than 17th-placed West Ham.