With Jose not playing in the Carabao Cup in midweek, he recovered a lot after a week's break, so it was no surprise that he was back in the starting line-up.

However, Benteke and Weimann and other key players, except for the substitute in the FA Cup, they have started and even played the whole game throughout the Devils' schedule, so their physical reserves are also a problem.

Of course, they are all at the peak of their bodies, and they can barely afford this consumption, but there is a lot less running in the race.

It was a truly close game.

In terms of possession, Villa 51% against Southampton 49%; Total shots on goal, Villa 16 vs Southampton 15; As for the number of hits to the target, it was 5 to 4.

So the final result was 0-0 not surprising at all.

Another draw was made, and it was also Villa's 10th draw of the season.

In fact, the game was not without waves, in the 34th minute of the first half, Southampton had a penalty opportunity, which made Southampton fans happy for dozens of seconds.

However, Jose pounced on him in full view.

At this time, people have begun to believe that Jose is not unable to save a penalty kick.

Only Jose himself knows that his current self is not invincible, but others don't know his weakness.

In addition to the penalty kick, there was also something that worried Southampton fans when young talent Luke Shaw was forced out of the pitch with an injury, leaving everyone present worried.

It was at this time that Luke Shaw's glass properties began?

……

After the game against Southampton, Jose and his team-mates finally had a full week to recover.

Although a week is not much, it has finally allowed the tired body and mind to recover a little.

…

On January 20, the 23rd round of the English Premier League began.

Villa travel to West Bromwich Albion in what will be Villa's fifth game in January.

West Bromwich Albion have been in a different league game with Villa this season, winning most of their league games and currently sitting in seventh place with 33 points from 10 wins, three draws, very close to Villa's standings.

…

There was no room for error in the league and Jose deserved to be the starting goalkeeper.

In addition, there is good news for Villa, defender Vlar is back from injury, which is definitely a good thing for Villa's defense.

As for West Bromwich Albion, Romelu Lukaku got the chance to start, and at just 19 years old, he not only sat in the main position, but also became West Bromwich Albion's thigh-level player this season.

Looking at Jose and Lukaku on the pitch, people can't help but think that Chelsea's taxis are really terrifying.

After the start of the game, both sides played very aggressively and frequently threatened the opponent's goal.

It's just a dense schedule, which seriously affects the performance of the players.

Just five minutes into the game, Nathan Baker went off injured and Lehi came off the bench.

Villa passively used up their first substitution and seemed a bit of a disadvantage.

However, Baker's injury faded quickly and was blown away by another incident.

In the 12th minute, N'Zogbia assisted Benteke to open the scoring, and the Villa team took the lead away.

In the 21st minute, Abang Lajo had an argument with the opposing player Olsson, and was hit by the referee with 50 boards each, and both received the Topaz card at the same time.

In the 31st minute, Villa scored again, and N'Zogbia assisted Abonlaho to score.

In the 36th minute, West Brom midfielder Jacob went off injured and came on as a substitute for Jerome Thomas.

The frequent injury withdrawals have made Premier League clubs extremely dissatisfied with the schedule, but they are helpless.

At half-time, Villa led 2-0.

Villa seem to see hope of winning.

In the second half, it was easy to play again.

Romelu Lukaku picked up the ball in the box on a number of occasions, and his strong body put both Clarke and Vlaar under pressure.

Although Jose did not collide directly with Lukaku, he could still feel the strength of the other party, and it is no wonder that he was cultivated by Chelsea as Drogba's successor.

However, I don't know if the Chelsea hierarchy has noticed that all of Lukaku's goals this season have been non-Big6 teams.

In the 49th minute, Lukaku himself won the ball and, knowing that there was no hope of turning around, opted to pass back to Brent, who volleyed straight into the crossbar before bouncing back into the net.

West Brom pulled one back.

The reason why Jose did not save this goal was not only because he was lucky, but also to save the number of stunts.

He will be in action in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final three days later.

It's in the semi-finals, and everyone still hopes to win a championship.

Brent's goal gave West Brom hope of an equaliser and they fought harder.

Villa's Delph became the third player to go off injured due to the fierce scramble, while Brent was fourth.

Injuries are a problem that small and medium-sized clubs can't get over.

In the end, West Brom were unable to equalise despite 29 shots on goal.

In fact, both sides had six shots on target, with Villa, who were more efficient, winning the shot.

Of course, this is just as crucial as Jose's play.

At the end of 23 rounds, Villa and Arsenal are tied on 37 points and are in sixth place due to goal difference, followed by Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Everton.

With 10 days left in January, the Devil's schedule is coming to an end.

…

Local time, on January 22, one of the matches in the second leg of the semi-finals of the English League Cup was contested.

Villa host Bradford City.

Considering the importance of this game, except for Weimann, who failed to start, the regular main players all appeared.

After the opening, Villa pressed hard.

It's almost hard to see this kind of situation in the league.

The visitors' choice is very simple, they will defend and then look for a quick counter-attack, after all, the advantage of the first leg is in their hands.

Sure enough, Villa's siege failed to work, instead allowing the visitors to find a counter-attack.

In the 22nd minute, in order to block the opponent's quick counterattack, Clark got the first yellow card of the game.

"Come on." The fans at the scene encouraged one after another.

Feeling the encouragement from the fans, the Villa players began to attack even harder as if they had had enough blood.

In the 24th minute, Bennett crossed from the side and found Benteke in the box.

Benteke received a pass from a teammate and headed straight into the net from the top right corner of the goal.

1 to 0.

This score was maintained until the end of the first half.

If the scoreline is maintained until the end, the Villa side will be eliminated from the competition, so they will need to score two more goals without conceding a goal, or one more goal and then go to extra time or even a brutal penalty shoot-out.

At half-time, Paul Lambert readjusted his tactics based on the situation in the first half.

Jose has only one task, and that is to keep the goal intact.

In the 55th minute, the visiting team's midfielder made a successful steal, and the No. 18 player took the ball and crossed from the side.

Clark, Vlaar and others did not grab the ball, but let the opponent's No. 9 striker James Hansen take the lead to the ball.

The ball drew a small arc in front of the goal and flew quickly towards the left side of the goal.

If there are no surprises, this is a must-score.

"Ahh Villa fans at the scene covered their mouths in panic.

If this goal is scored, Villa's task will be much more difficult.

At this time, Jose is still on the right side of the goal.