Aston Villa suffered their 18th Premier League defeat of the season at the hands of Everton, who left Villa Park on Tuesday night with a 3-1 win in the bag.
Ramiro Funes Mori, Aaron Lennon and Romelu Lukaku found the back of the net for Roberto Martinez's side, who did not get out of second gear for the duration of the game.
Substitute Rudy Gestede scored for Villa in the 79th minute, but the forward failed to inspire a comeback as Remi Garde's men were forced to accept another loss.
Everton move above Merseyside rivals Liverpool to 10th in the table, while Villa stay at the bottom of the standings, eight points from safety.
Discover how the game unfolded in Sports Mole's text commentary below.
6.45pmHello everyone! We have a jam-packed week of Premier League action as the top-flight teams are playing either tonight or tomorrow before another fun-filled weekend of fixtures. There are five contests on display this evening, but right here we will be focusing on bottom against 12th as Aston Villa welcome Everton to their home.
6.50pmUnfortunately, there has not been much positivity emanating from Villa Park this season as they are rooted to the bottom of the table having won just three of their league games. Remi Garde was brought in to replace Tim Sherwood following a poor start to the campaign, but it has gone from bad to worse. Villa are eight points from safety and they have lost three of their last four league games. While a win tonight is unlikely to be enough to eventually secure survival, it would provide a boost to the disillusioned fans.
6.51pmAs for Everton, well they have been making headlines off the pitch with regards to new investment (more of that later) as they have not been doing anything on it for almost two weeks. Roberto Martinez's side were due to face Merseyside rivals Liverpool at the weekend, but as Jurgen Klopp's men were in the League Cup final, Everton have had plenty of time to prepare for this game.
6.51pmBefore we delve any further, let's bring you the teams that will line up on the pitch tonight...
6.52pmASTON VILLA XI: Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Clark, Lescott, Cissokho; Bacuna, Westwood, Gueye; Ayew, Agbonlahor
Subs: Bunn, Okore, Sinclair, Veretout, Gil, Lyden, Gestede
Subs: Bunn, Okore, Sinclair, Veretout, Gil, Lyden, Gestede
6.53pm
Here's our confirmed line-up to face @Everton this evening. #AVLEVE #AVFC #EFC pic.twitter.com/ncBw4i3TVw
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) March 1, 2016
6.53pmEVERTON XI: Robles; Oviedo, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Coleman; Barry, McCarthy; Mirallas, Barkley, Lennon; Lukaku
Subs: Howard, Baines, Stones, Kone, Niasse, Deulofeu, Osman
Subs: Howard, Baines, Stones, Kone, Niasse, Deulofeu, Osman
6.54pm
TEAM NEWS: Here is how we will line-up against @AVFCOfficial this evening. #VILvEFC pic.twitter.com/J98HgQeUjM
— Everton (@Everton) March 1, 2016
6.58pmSo, the big news for Villa is that Andre Ayew is back in the fold after serving a three-match ban and he is one of four changes to the team that suffered a 2-1 loss to Stoke City at the weekend. Brad Guzan returns in goal to replace Mark Bunn, while captain Micah Richards lines up in defence alongside Ciaran Clark. Jores Okore, Jordan Veretout and Carles Gil are the ones to miss out.
7.02pmAs for Everton, Roberto Martinez has made just the one change to the side that overcame Bournemouth 2-0 in the FA Cup fifth round. Kevin Mirallas starts in place of Tom Cleverley, who is not in the squad this evening. John Stones has been on the sidelines with a hamstring injury for the past month, but he is in the squad tonight and has a spot on the bench. The defender has not been able to break up the centre-back partnership between Ramiro Funes Mori and Phil Jagielka, though.
7.06pmNow that tonight's first XIs are out in the open, let's look a little deeper into Villa's season. Unfortunately it will not be great reading for the club's fans as they have very little chance of retaining their Premier League status. As mentioned, Garde's side have only won three league games all season. The slight positive is that two of those wins have come in the last seven matches. The victories including a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace and a 2-0 triumph over Norwich City.
7.09pmThe downside, though, is that in their last two top-flight fixtures they conceded eight goals. The most recent was a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. Leandro Bacuna tried to inspire a comeback with a 79th minute goal, but a Marko Arnautovic's two goals, one of which was from the penalty spot, was enough to ensure that the Potters took all three points.
7.12pmThe game before that was arguably their most embarrassing of the season so far. They were stuffed 6-0 by Liverpool on home turf and defender Joleon Lescott was heavily criticised for tweeting a picture of an expensive Mercedes car shortly after the loss. The former Manchester City man apologised and insisted that it was an "accident" as the picture was posted while his phone was in his pocket. That little explanation probably did not do much to calm the angry Villa fans.
7.15pmSpeaking of the supporters' anger, some of them are planning to stage a walkout in the 74th minute of their next three home games. When asked for his thoughts on the protest, Garde told reporters: "I can understand. It's such a painful situation, such a painful season, that everybody who loves this football club has to cope with,.
"Fans are fully part of this situation we have to deal with. If they want to protest what can I say? What can I do? I have only been here for four months and this protest is probably the result of years."
7.19pmIn terms of this season's statistics, it's difficult to see how they will get out of this predicament. The team have managed to score just 21 goals all season and six of them were spread across January and February. Fortune has not been on their side either as their two league games after Everton are against title contenders Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
7.21pmIt's no surprise, then, that Garde has been struggling to sleep at night! Earlier this week he told reporters: 'I am not sleeping very well, as you can guess.
"I never relax, I am always watching football into the night. I am fully focussed on that. I will try to analyse what I need to do, what I can change.
"There are so many aspects. Psychologically, physically, tactically, technically then I haven't got one rule. I try to adapt from what I saw in the game when I watch the game again, of course, like every game. I try to do my best in my position but it is difficult."
© Getty Images
7.23pmAs for Everton, well they have had a very good week off the pitch. It was announced over the weekend that Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri had completed a £175m takeover, which has resulted in him becoming a major shareholder. Moshiri now owns 49.9% of the club, which he purchased from current chairman Bill Kenwright. The investment has been spoken about for some time, but the deal has officially gone through.
7.26pmThere have been reports that Everton's new shareholder will hand over around £100m to spend on players in the transfer window, which would be huge for the Merseyside outfit. While Everton are not a small club by any means, it has been difficult for them to compete with the financial firepower of some of the big guns, including Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.
7.29pmNow, though, they reportedly have the chance to make a splash in the transfer window, and not only that, Martinez believes that the club's ambitions need to match the level of investment. Earlier this week the Spaniard told reporters: "We have to look to the Champions league and we have to become a winning team.
"That's a broad statement and difficult to achieve but this investment will take us into a different level in terms of being able to get there.
"Clearly it is an exciting time and that's what every Evertonian should know. The new investment knows the history of this club and someone who will be a really strong addition."
© Getty Images
7.35pmIt was reported by The Mirror earlier this week that Lukaku could force through a move away from Goodison Park at the end of the season. It would be a huge loss to the club as the Belgian has cored 21 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions this season. The forward joined the Merseyside outfit on a permanent deal from Chelsea in 2014, but he has regularly been linked with other clubs, including Manchester United.
© Getty Images
7.36pmIn terms of matters on the pitch, things did not quite go to plan in their last league outing, which was way back on February 13. Everton were undone by a single goal from Salomon Rondon, whose strike was West Bromwich Albion's only shot on target. During the game, Martinez's created 34 shots but they could not find their way through, therefore relinquishing the chance to win three league games in a row.
7.37pmPrior to that defeat, Everton stormed to back-to-back 3-0 wins over Newcastle United and Stoke City, with Aaron Lennon scoring in both. Ross Barkley scored a penalty and another goal in the win over the Magpies, while Lukaku and Seamus Coleman contributed with goals against Stoke.
7.38pmThe Toffees' last game was in the FA Cup on February 20. They had a dramatic 3-3 draw at the Vitality Stadium in the league. Barkley thought he had won it for Everton in the dying minutes, but the Cherries bounced back in stoppage time. The FA Cup fifth-round game was a lot different, though, as Barkley and Lukaku scored the only goals of the clash.
7.41pmThe form book suggests that this should be a decent trip for Everton as they are unbeaten in their last seven league games on the road having won two and drawn five. They have also show already this season that they can beat Villa as Lukaku and Barkley scored two goals apiece in a 4-0 romp at Goodison Park in November.
7.41pmIn fact, Villa have only triumphed once in their last 10 Premier League games against Everton and it's clear to see that Lukaku enjoys these fixtures. He has scored five in his four games against the Midlands outfit. Surprisingly, Leon Osman is also a regular among the goals when it comes to playing Villa as he has scored six.
7.41pmRight, both teams are making their way out onto the pitch. Will Everton inflict an 18th league defeat on Villa or will the home side earn a rare win?
1 minKICKOFF! Everton get us underway! Roger East is the referee for this one.
1 minStraight away, Everton have taken a stronghold of the game by knocking the ball around their own half.
2 minIt's important for Villa to find their feet quickly as they don't want to be playing catch-up early on. The home side get some possession as Gueye switches the play to Richards. At the moment Garde's side seem comfortable just to string some passes together.
4 minThe ball finds the feet of Lukaku on the edge of the box. The Everton forward spins round his marker, but his touch is poor and the ball gets deflected for a corner.
5 minGOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-1 EVERTON (FUNES MORI)
5 minPerfect start for Everton as Ramiro Funes Mori scores his fourth goal of the season and it couldn't have been any easier for him. It's poor marking from Villa for the corner as the ball swings in from Mirallas and finds his defender, who has a free header and nods it in from six yards out.
7 minVilla already have plenty to do to get back into this game, you feel. The home side go on the attack, but the move breaks down and Everton counter attack. Lennon tees the ball up to Lukaku, but Lescott does well by putting pressure on the forward, who fails to get a shot away.
11 minColeman receives the ball on the right-hand side and sends a high cross into the box looking for Lukaku, but Richards gets there first and heads clear.
12 minVilla just can't get the ball at the moment. Everton are patiently passing it around, building up their attack and they get a free kick after Agbonlahor fouled Barry. It's lifted into the box, but it's comfortably cleared by Villa.
13 minBOOKING! More bad news for Villa as Clark gets cautioned for hacking into Mirallas close to the line on the right side.
14 minMirallas takes the free kick and aims for the centre of the box, but Guzan is there to snatch the ball from the air. Some sarcastic cheers ring around the stadium.
15 minVilla get a half-chance as Ayew takes a shot on the edge of the box, but it takes a huge deflection and almost bounces in favour of Agbonlahor, but it ends up going out for a goal kick.
18 minMcCarthy goes to ground close to the corner of the box after a one-two with Mirallas. The Everton midfielder is calling for a free kick, but the referee says it's a dive. Not too many complaints from McCarthy.
20 minAt the moment whenever Villa try to launch an attack it tends to break down when they enter the final third. Westwood sends a low cross into the box, but none of his teammates are there to latch on.
20 minBOOKING! A second Villa player goes in the book and it's Idrissa Gueye. He's punished for tugging at McCarthy's shirt following a tussle on the ground.
22 minLennon collects the ball on the edge of the area and tries to play in Lukaku, but Gueye does well to track the ball and win back possession.
23 minCHANCE! Villa get their first real opportunity as the ball is threaded forward to Agbonlahor from Bacuna, who takes a wild shot at goal, but it's easily stopped by Robles.
25 minSAVE! Better from Villa! They show more pace and energy as the ball drops to Westwood on the edge of the area. He unleashes a shot and forces a stop from the Everton keeper.
26 minVilla get two quick corners - the first of which was poor defending from Everton as the goalkeeper was nowhere near the ball when it was whipped in. The second resulted in the ball falling to Richards, who tried a spectacular overhead kick, but it went over the bar.
27 minBOOKING! Bacuna is the third Villa player to receive a caution for a needless foul.
28 minEncouraging signs from Villa as Bacuna cuts inside the area and tries to curl the ball past Robles with his right foot, but the Everton keeper makes the save.
30 minGOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-2 EVERTON (LENNON)
30 minWhat a lovely counter attack from Everton! They've been under pressure from Villa in the last few minutes, but in one swift movement they have doubled their lead! The break begins with Barkley, who charges down the field and plays the ball forward for Mirallas, who sends a low cross into the centre of the box to find Lennon, who makes no mistake and slots the ball home.
32 minVilla try to respond down the other end and it's Cissokho who cuts into the box and tries to fire a shot across goal, but it's comfortably stopped by the keeper.
33 minGuzan spills it, but survives! A potentially embarrassing moment for the Villa keeper as he lets go of Mirallas's shot, which prompts Lukaku to jump on it. The ball ends up back at Mirallas's feet, but he misses the target. A let-off for Villa there!
35 minJagielka needs some treatment after going to ground with a head injury. It seems as though the Everton defender was caught by Bacuna's elbow, but he seems well enough to carry on.
39 minAgbonlahor wins the header and aims for Westwood, who would only have the keeper to beat from close range if he connects, but he doesn't as Funes Mori clears with the swipe of his boot.
39 minMirallas picks up the loose ball and quickly finds Lukaku, but the pass is over-hit slightly and it drags Lukaku out wide. The Belgian moves to the edge of the box and sends in a high ball, but it's cleared by Villa.
42 minVilla are ending the half on the attack here! The ball is played out wide to Hutton, who whips the ball into the box searching for Agbonlahor, but the forward fails to connect and it's knocked out of the danger area by the visitors.
43 minCissokho charges past Oviedo and whips the ball into the box, but only Agbonlahor is there to try to latch on. He doesn't though as the ball bounces ahead of him and bobbles out for a throw-in.
44 minBOOKING! Lukaku is the fourth player of the night to be cautioned after elbowing Clark in the face. The Everton forward can have no complaints there.
45 minCHANCE! Lescott comes close to equalising! The ball is whipped into the box and headed back towards the defender, who is unmarked on the near post. He manages to get a strike away, but it flies just over the bar.
45+3 minHALF-TIME: ASTON VILLA 0-2 EVERTON
8.34pmThe referee blows for half-time and it's been another miserable start for Villa. They are 2-0 down at the break to Everton, who are 45 minutes away from inflicting an 18th league defeat on the Villans. Ramiro Funes Mori gave the Toffees the lead in the fifth minute with a free header and after a spell of Villa dominance, the home side were dealt a sucker-punch when Aaron Lennon scored the second on the counter-attack. The home side have shown some promise but they still have a mountain to climb in the second half. We'll return shortly!
46 minRESTART! Villa get the second half underway! Can they get themselves back into his match or will Everton see out the win.
46 minEverton win a corner inside 30 seconds of the restart and it's whipped in by Barkley, but goes just over the head of Jagielka.
47 minThe ball ends back at the feet of Barkley, who sends in a cross, but it's high and overhit. Lukaku gives him a clap of appreciation for the attempt, though.
50 minEverton flew out of the blocks at the start of this second half, but Villa try to calm down play as they pass the ball around the pitch searching for a way through.
51 minThe visitors receive a free kick just inside their own half and it's taken short and the ball ends up down the right wing. Coleman runs forward but he's under pressure from Gueye and the full-back halts his run.
53 minBacuna tries to tee up Hutton with a through-ball, but it's slightly overhit and Hutton fails to collect the ball with his outstretched leg. The ball bobbles out for a goal kick.
57 minLennon plays the ball forward as he spots Coleman's overlapping run, but Cissokho tracks him and knocks the ball out for a corner, which is delivered in by Barkley, but it comes to nothing.
58 minAt the moment, both sides are able to keep the ball in the middle of the park but when they get in the final third their touches have let them down.
59 minSAVE! What a great stop from Guzan! Lennon whips the ball into the box as Lukaku charges forward. The Belgian connects with a header, but Villa's keeper drops to his side to make the save.
60 minGOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-3 EVERTON (LUKAKU)
60 minGame over for Villa? Everton stretch their lead to 3-0 thanks to Lukaku! Again, it's some poor defending from the home side as Funes Mori is given acres of space on the right and he sends a low cross into the six-yard area to find Lukaku, who taps it in the back of the net.
62 minCHANCE! Villa come close! It's poor defending from Everton this time as Barry fails to track Westwood's run and the Villa man unleashes a shot, which bounces on the ground first and is headed out by Jagielka for a corner, which comes to nothing.
66 minThey may be 3-0 down, but they haven't given up their fight! Villa are on the attack and playing with much more freedom and the crowd have got even louder.
66 minVILLA SUB: Garde makes his first change as Agbonlahor makes way for Gestede.
71 minLukaku is searching for more goals, but he fails to convert from inside the box by blazing over the bar. The ball bounces awkwardly in the box and when it falls to the striker his touch lets him down. He's not happy about it either as he slams his fist to the pitch in frustration!
72 minVILLA SUB: Westwood makes way for Veretout as Villa try to get someone out of this game.
73 minEVERTON SUB: The Toffees make their first change of the night as Coleman is replaced with Stones.
74 minAs promised some Villa fans are making their way out of the stadium as part of a planned walkout in the 74th minute. You can't really blame them, can you?
78 minAyew tries to make things happen for the home side as he cuts inside and tries to break into the box, but Barkley drops back to take the ball off him.
79 minGOAL! ASTON VILLA 1-3 EVERTON (GESTEDE)
79 minVilla find the back of the net! After minutes of lacklustre play, the home side manage to get one back and it's from substitute Gestede who connects to a high cross and heads the ball past Robles. Not much celebrating from Villa, but it's a goal at least.
84 minThe home side are trying to claw their way back into the game as Cissokho loops the ball high into the air, but it's comfortably collected by the keeper.
86 minGestede uses his strength to get into the right side of the penalty area and takes on Funes Mori before earning Villa a corner. The ball comes in and bounces towards Cissokho, but the full-back mistimes his header and misses the ball.
90 minVilla are still piling on the pressure by winning their ninth corner. It's whipped into the area and Richards connects with a header, but his effort goes behind the line for a goal kick.
90 minThe fourth official indicates five minutes of added time.
90+2 minVilla are threatening again, but Gueye wastes an opportunity as he plays the ball forward into the box, but nobody tracks his pass and the ball is easily collected by Robles.
90+3 minEverton hunt for a late fourth goal as Lennon feeds the ball forward for Lukaku, but Clark is there to drop down and make a tackle. The defender gives away a corner, which comes to nothing for Everton.
90+4 minSAVE! Everton should be celebrating their fourth but Guzan makes a stop from close range. It's Funes Mori again who gets the opportunity as the ball comes in from the corner, but he is denied by the keeper.
90+5 minFULL-TIME: ASTON VILLA 1-3 EVERTON
9.47pmSo, another disappointing night for Villa fans as they record their 18th Premier League defeat of the season. Ramiro Funes Mori, Aaron Lennon and Romelu Lukaku scored for Everton, while Rudy Gestede's 79th-minute strike proved to be a consolation goal. The Toffees move above Merseyside rivals Liverpool to 10th, while Villa remain rooted to the bottom of the table, eight points from safety. Thank you for joining us this evening and until next time, goodbye!
