Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa highlights, ratings and reaction from the Amex

90 – Nine minutes added time.

78 – Digne’s cross from the left is touched out for a corner inside the box as Cash was coming in at the far post.

79 – Digne’s corner was initially cleared, before it fell to the feet of McGinn. He tucks the ball in the net but he was offside.

73 – Duran has come on for Diaby. A predictable change after a quiet performance from Diaby.

63 – Olsen makes another outstanding save. Joao Pedro goes through and tries to hook the ball to the far post under pressure from Torres. Olsen manages to make the block at his near post. Excellent goalkeeping.

61 – Torres twice loses the ball, allowing Brighton to break with Adingra. After Villa cleared the danger initially, the winger then tries to pick out Welbeck at the far post. Torres makes up for his mistakes by getting to the ball first.

62 – Enciso has come on for Brighton. He’s a talent.

56 – Bailey wins a corner for Villa. Better from Villa in the last few minutes. They’re playing with more poise in the final third. And the away fans are responding.

57 – Luiz’s corner is cleared. Cash then fires at goal from distance – his effort wasn’t far away. It had Verbruggen troubled.

53 – Joao Pedro has the option to shoot after skipping past McGinn in the final third but he opts to pass. Bailey cuts the ball out and shortly after wins a free-kick to relieve pressure.

55 – After a strong performance on Thursday where he scored and assisted, you want to see more from Diaby today. He’s been pretty anonymous until now.

46 – Gross takes a free-kick from a dangerous position, but Carlos is first up inside the box to clear the danger.

48 – Rob Jones blows up for a foul against Brighton in midfield. The crowd weren’t happy about that one.

49 – ‘We’re on our way, we’re on our way, to the Champions League we’re on our way’. A point wouldn’t be a bad result for Villa today, a win would be tremendous.

45+3 – Adingra spots Gross’ run in the box. The midfielder latches onto the ball and tries to round Olsen, but the ‘keeper stands his ground and makes a top save to prevent a late goal in the first half. ‘Robin Olsen, the world’s number two’ rings out from the away end.

43 – Well done to Olsen, who sprints off his line to prevent Adringa rounding him inside the box. But he took a whack on the shoulder for his troubles. Gauci went to warm up, but Olsen will continue for now.

44 – Heading towards the break with the score 0-0.

35- Digne combines well with Watkins on the left side. The striker chops inside of Dunk from close range, but can’t get his shot off after being crowded out.

35 – Joao Pedro then leads a counter attack for Brighton, but Torres fouls him. Lukcy to escape a booking there. Remains 0-0 here.

30 – Cash is now operating on the right wing instead of Bailey, who has pushed over to the left side. Diaby remains in support of Watkins up front.

31 – Watkins and Bailey press well, forcing Webster to play backwards. They nearly dispossessed him on the halfway line.

23 – Villa have been forced into a change. Rogers comes off injured, replaced by Cash. A frustrating blow for Villa, who are down to the bare bones in some positons now. Far from ideal heading into the second leg against Olympiacos knowing they need to score at least twice to progress to the final.

19 – Luiz escapes a challenge in the middle of the park, but Diaby fails to then control his pass. Sloppy from Villa after they did the hard bit.

20 – McGinn somehow escapes with the ball after being surrounded by three players. Emery appluds his skipper from the touchline.

21 – Adingra beats Villa’s offside trap, but his teammates were behind the defenders when he crossed the ball. Olsen caught it no problem.

16 – Webster tries to hook the ball over the top for Gross, but the midfielder was caught offside. Good line from Villa.

17 – Torres sweeps his pass behind the Brighton backline, allowing Watkins to chase. Verbruggen rushes out, but Dunk takes no chances and clears his lines.

18 – Emery calls for a foul on Bailey as he shirt was pulled before he fell over and lost possession on the wing. No foul was given.

11 – Carlos clears Adingra’s cross, but the ball falls to Joao Pedro, whose effort deflects wide for a corner.

12 – Webster’s header goes over the bar after he connected with Gilmour’s corner.

13 – Villa are looking to take some control now.

13 – Konsa plays the ball over to Bailey on the right wing. He is fouled twice while trying to keep the ball, but Rob Jones doesn’t blow up. Incredible.

6 – Rogers finds Diaby in space in the box, but the Frenchman’s effort on goal is straight at Verbruggen.

7 – McGinn gets a clap of encouragement from Emery as he hunts the ball down from Welbeck.

7 – Luiz wins the ball back high up and play Watkins in, but referee Rob Jones calls play back for a foul.

8 – Olsen makes a save from Adingra’s effort. Digne then clears the ball at the far post.

8 – Villa defend Gross’ corner.

1 – ‘Small Heath get battered everywhere they go’ was bound to be the first chant of the afternoon.

2 – Rogers goes over inside the box, but nothing is given. Not a big claim for a penalty from Villa either.

3 – Adingra finds space in the box to get a shot off. Olsen saves.

4 – Villa have started on the front foot, playing some good football early on.

This could be the day Villa secure Champions League qualification, but they’ve got a big task on their hands this afternoon to beat a Brighton side who, despite their recent form, have only lost three home league games this term. Two of which came against Man City and Arsenal in recent weeks.

Villa are without Emi Martinez though injury, so Robin Olsen will have to be on top form to try and limit the impact of the No. 1’s absence.

“Firstly we have to focus again on the Premier League quickly. After, we will analyse the game we played on Thursday. We need to be quick to analyse with the players the match we will face on Sunday with data analysis, characteristics of the team, individual players. As well, we need to recover quick again and full energy for Sunday.”

“His [Emery] style is clear, they have very important players, they spent lots of money in last transfer window on top of other great players they had. [It is] tough for them playing and competing in three or four competitions in one season because they are not so used to it.”

Betway: Brighton vs Aston Villa match odds

Brighton 6/4

Draw 13/5

Aston Villa 8/5

“We are fighting with Tottenham for the Champions League. It is an amazing season if it finishes like that. We are growing up here as coaches, workers, players, supporters. We have to be demanding and trying to get stronger in everything. We have to create a strong mentality to keep for a long time.”

“Aston Villa have got fourth place and Champions League football in their grasp but they still have work to do to get over the line,” Sutton told the BBC.

“Unai Emery’s side play the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final with Olympiakos on Thursday, so you think if Brighton could find a bit of energy, they might cause them some problems.

“I don’t see that happening, though. The Seagulls are missing their spark – for a long time now they not been the same team they were last season – and, as I’ve said before, the uncertainty over Roberto de Zerbi’s future has hardly helped.”

Sutton’s prediction: Brighton 1-3 Villa

“The respect for Roberto de Zerbi is high. He is an amazing coach, he was playing very good last year. This year they changed a lot some players and it is normal they need time again to get the same performances and be successful with their style. It is amazing how they play. I appreciate them a lot.”

Brighton: Adam Lallana is the latest addition to Brighton’s lengthy injury list which includes James Milner, Tariq Lamptey, Pervis Estupinan, Evan Ferguson, Jack Hinshelwood, Solly March, Jan Paul van Hecke and Kauro Mitoma.

Villa: Emi Martinez, Alex Moreno and Youri Tielemans were all assessed on Saturday in the lead up to the game, while Nicolo Zaniolo returned from injury in midweek.

Head-to-head

• Brighton have lost the past five Premier League meetings by an aggregate score of 14-3.
• Aston Villa could win six consecutive league games against a single opponent for the first time since doing so against local rivals Birmingham City between 2005-10.
• Albion’s most recent top-flight home victory against Villa was 1-0 in December 1980.

Brighton & Hove Albion

• Brighton’s only victory in their last nine Premier League games was 1-0 against Nottingham Forest in March (D3, L5).
• The Seagulls could concede three or more goals in three consecutive league fixtures for the first time since 2011 when they were in the Championship.
• Roberto De Zerbi’s side have failed to score in eight league matches in 2024, more than any other team.
• The only goal they have scored in their last five league outings was an own goal by Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric in a 1-1 draw.
• Joao Pedro is without a goal in his last five appearances in all competitions.
• Danny Welbeck’s next start will be his 200th in the Premier League.

Aston Villa

• Aston Villa are unbeaten in their past four Premier League games (W2, D2). Unai Emery’s side have led by two goals in each of those matches.
• They need just three more points to reach 70 this season, which would be their highest tally in the top flight since 1989-90.
• The Villans have scored 73 league goals, their most in a top-flight season and one more than in their title-winning campaign in 1980-81.
• Morgan Rogers has scored three goals and provided an assist in his last five league matches.
• Ollie Watkins has six goals in four Premier League appearances against Brighton, more than he has scored against any other opposition in the division.
• Watkins has six goals and two assists across his last five away league outings.
• The England striker is one short of becoming the first Villa player to score 20 top-flight goals in a season since Peter Withe in 1980-81.

Courtesy of BBC Sport