Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Everton's Theo Walcott scores their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Dave Thompson
Aston Villa suffered a devastating blow in their battle for Premier League survival when Theo Walcott headed a late equaliser to earn Everton a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Thursday.
After a cagey first half, Villa scored with the game's first attempt on target as centre back Ezri Konsa latched on to a Conor Hourihane free kick in the 72nd minute.
Everton struggled to create goalscoring opportunities until Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes's cross found the diminutive Walcott who headed home three minutes from time.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa scores their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Clive Brunskill
"The lads are devastated in the dressing room because we deserved more out of the game," Villa manager Dean Smith said.
"I thought in the last eight minutes we got a bit sloppy on the ball and didn't take as much pressure off ourselves as we needed to."
Smith was unimpressed by Villa's lack of composure in the closing stages, with forward Anwar El Ghazi smashing the ball over the crossbar from close range.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa scores their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Clive Brunskill
"It was one that probably should've gone into the back of the net, but it doesn't and unfortunately they went up the other end and score," Smith said.
"I think Theo's trying to head it back across goal which makes it even more disappointing."
The result left Villa 19th in the table, three points adrift of the safety zone, having played a game more than 17th-placed Watford.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Mbwana Samatta in action with Everton's Michael Keane, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Clive Brunskill
They face Arsenal at Villa Park on Tuesday before finishing the season against fellow strugglers West Ham United.
Everton extended their winless run to four league matches to stay 11th in the table, having failed to mount a challenge for European qualification spots since the league resumed last month.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Everton's Theo Walcott (not pictured) scores their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Peter Powell
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Conor Hourihane in action with Everton's Bernard, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Peter Powell Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Everton's Richarlison in action with Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Peter Powell Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Mbwana Samatta in action with Everton's Michael Keane, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Clive Brunskill Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Everton's Theo Walcott in action with Aston Villa's Jack Grealish, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Clive Brunskill Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Everton's Mason Holgate after sustaining an injury, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Dave Thompson Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Pepe Reina reacts after Everton's Theo Walcott scored their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Clive Brunskill Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Jack Grealish in action with Everton's Seamus Coleman, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Peter Powell Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Jack Grealish shoots at goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Clive Brunskill Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings in action with Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Dave Thompson Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Everton's Theo Walcott (not pictured) scores their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Clive Brunskill Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin in action with Aston Villa's Matt Targett, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Clive Brunskill Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Anwar El Ghazi shoots at goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Peter Powell Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Peter Powell Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Jack Grealish shoots at goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Peter Powell Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - July 16, 2020 Aston Villa's Keinan Davis in action with Everton's Andre Gomes, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Peter Powell
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