Brighton snapped a six-match winless run in the Premier League when they beat Aston Villa 1-0 at home after Joao Pedro scored an 87th-minute winner in a scrappy affair.
Simon Adingra had been Brighton’s busiest player throughout the game and it was his foray into the box late in the second half which drew a foul from Villa full back Ezri Konsa which forced the referee to point to the spot.
Villa’s stand-in keeper Robin Olsen had made several saves to keep his side in the game and even denied Joao Pedro from the spot, but he could do nothing when the Brazilian headed home the rebound for his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
The result moved Brighton up to 11th place with 47 points while Villa are fourth with 67 points as they continue to wait to seal a spot in next season’s Champions League with fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur still in the hunt.
Follow the latest action from the Premier League below.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League updates
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FULL TIME! Pedro ends Brighton’s winless run as Villa suffer top-four blow
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87’ GOAL! Pedro nets rebound after Olsen saves penalty (BRI 1-0 AVL)
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70’ NO GOAL! Gross finish disallowed for offside (BRI 0-0 AVL)
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45+3’ SAVE! Olsen makes big stop to deny Gross before half-time (BRI 0-0 AVL)
Brighton & Hove Albion FC 1 – 0 Aston Villa FC
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
16:11
Brighton end their long wait for a win at Aston Villa’s expense, and it took a penalty to open the door at the end of a low-key contest at the Amex, which finishes 1-0 to the Seagulls. Olsen made some important stops to keep a tired Villa side in the game, but Joao Pedro finally beat the visitors’ back-up goalkeeper at the second attempt, having seen his initial spot-kick saved. Victory is just reward for Brighton’s brighter work in the final third, and Adingra – who won the penalty – stood out as they recorded an xG of 0.83 to Villa’s 0.06. Unai Emery’s men still lead fifth-placed Tottenham by seven points, but Spurs now have two games in hand in the race for Champions League qualification. While Brighton must take on Newcastle United next week, Villa will visit Greece on Thursday, to try overturning their two-goal deficit to Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League semi-finals. That’s all from the Amex today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
16:04
FULL-TIME: BRIGHTON 1-0 ASTON VILLA
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
16:02
Clearly frustrated, Cash clatters into Barco after being beaten by some fleet footwork. That’s a needless booking for the Villa substitute.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
16:02
Enciso is caught offside, as Villa push their defensive line up towards the halfway line. There are only seconds to go now, and the Seagulls seem set for an overdue victory.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:59
Relieved after breaking their goal drought, Brighton are sprinting convincingly to the finish line now. Aston Villa can’t get near the final third and don’t seem to have any way back into this match.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:56
Soaking up a few more seconds, Brighton replace their star man today, Adingra. Barco is sent on for the final minutes.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:56
Brighton claim for another penalty during the first minute of at least nine added for stoppages at the end of this second half. The referee is not interested in Joao Pedro’s appeals and instead awards a corner.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:52
Substitution Lucas Digne Alexandre Moreno Lopera
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:52
Substitution Ezri Konsa Ngoyo Calum Chambers
GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa (Pedro 87’)
15:50 , Jamie Braidwood
That’s a huge goal! It’s a poor penalty from Joao Pedro but Olsen does not get enough on the save and the Brighton forward can nod in from close range to finally break the deadlock.
Brighton deserve to be in fornt. Villa have offered very little all afternoon.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:51
Penalty Miss João Pedro Junqueira de Jesus
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:51
Substitution Billy Clifford Gilmour Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:51
Substitution Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah Welbeck Jakub Piotr Moder
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:49
Penalty Save Robin Patrick Olsen
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:49
PENALTY FOR BRIGHTON! Having struggled to handle him all game long, Konsa finally loses his battle with Adingra, bringing the Ivorian down in the box and conceding a penalty! The Seagulls will have a late chance to snatch all three points at the Amex!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:47
JUST WIDE! Sending the ball narrowly past the left-hand post with a looping header from Enciso’s cross, Welbeck just misses out on opening the scoring! For once, Olsen was well beaten, but the ball drifts just wide of the target!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:46
The most prominent player on the pitch, Adingra again picks up the ball on the left side of Villa’s area; his low shot lacks enough power to test Olsen, who makes one of the simplest saves of an increasingly busy shift between the posts.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:44
GOAL CHECK! After Bailey whips in a corner from the right, the ball eventually makes its way to McGinn around 10 yards from goal. Villa’s captain guides it calmly into the bottom-left corner, but the flag is immediately raised for offside. The VAR reviews it from several angles before finally agreeing with the on-pitch officials’ original decision!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:41
Adingra tries to jockey his way past Konsa, but the latter stays on his feet and manages to block the ball behind for a corner-kick. Olsen can’t claim Gilmour’s delivery from the left, but Diego Carlos helps his goalkeeper out.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:39
Dunk leaps just in time to guide Bailey’s dipping cross towards substitute Duran in the centre, and it will be a throw-in for Aston Villa deep in Brighton territory.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:37
NO GOAL! The VAR instigated a review of the Gross goal, and it appears that the Brighton midfielder was offside by a matter of inches when the ball was played in by Igor! It stays 0-0! What a let-off for Aston Villa!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:35
Substitution Moussa Diaby Jhon Jader Durán Palacio
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:35
BRIGHTON LEAD! Meeting Igor’s low cross from the left byline, Gross nips in to beat Olsen at his near post! The Seagulls strike at last: it’s 1-0 at the Amex! But wait…the VAR is taking a look at this for a potential offside offence!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:32
Brighton break through Villa’s back line again, but Enciso lashes his shot well over the crossbar. Still, this is more fluent from the hosts, who are edging back into this contest.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:32
Goal Pascal Groß
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:32
The live win-predictor now suggests Brighton have a 26 per cent chance of victory, while Villa’s chance is rated at 21 per cent. Can either side finally make the breakthrough and claim maximum points?
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:28
SAVE! Sent through by a low pass, Joao Pedro races through the middle, slipping clear of Pau Torres and into a shooting position. Olsen narrows the angle well and makes another crucial save with his legs! That was surely Brighton’s best chance of the game! Villa’s stand-in stopper is keeping them in this contest!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:26
Yellow Card Simon Kofi Adingra
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:24
A dangerous Adingra cross is cleared behind by Pau Torres for a corner; however, Dunk’s header from the subsequent set-piece is blocked by Bailey.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:23
Substitution Facundo Valentín Buonanotte Julio César Enciso Espínola
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:23
While Villa are now having much more of the ball and look likeliest to open the scoring, Brighton are defending in a compact shape and keeping their visitors at arm’s length.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:21
CLOSE! From Aston Villa’s first corner-kick of the game, Dunk rises highest to head the ball partly clear, before Cash picks up the loose ball and sends a powerful attempt scudding wide of the right-hand post from 20 yards out! This is better from the Birmingham club!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:19
Cash and Diaby combine on the right side of Brighton’s box, but the latter’s low cross lacks precision and is cleared away to safety. Nonetheless, the intensity of this low-key contest is now stepping up a notch.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:17
Joao Pedro and Welbeck both narrowly fail to break through Villa’s back line, before Gilmour dives in with a tackle on Bailey, gifting the visitors a pressure-relieving free-kick.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:15
Though they’ve started to leak more goals of late, Aston Villa have lost only two of their last 11 away games. Unai Emery’s side are far from their brilliant best today, but they’re still very much in this one.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:12
Yellow Card Pascal Groß
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:10
Following a handball by Digne, Gross sends over a curling free-kick from the right, but Diego Carlos jumps forcefully to head it away from near the penalty spot.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:09
Brighton kick off, and we are back under way at the Amex!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:05
Although Aston Villa attempted just one shot during the first half – their lowest tally in the opening 45 minutes of any Premier League match since January 2023 – they have now stopped their opponents from scoring a first-half goal in 23 of 36 league games this season. Only title-chasing Arsenal (25) have done so more often. Can they go on to keep a more scarce clean sheet, though?
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
15:01
Two teams that suffered chastening defeats last time out have put on a tepid first-half performance at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, as Aston Villa hold their hosts goalless at the break. Aside from the visitors’ back-up goalkeeper Olsen making a couple of important saves, chances to find the net have been few and far between, as the Seagulls’ scoring drought goes on. While Brighton have edged things in terms of possession, their xG stands at 0.92 to Villa’s meagre 0.04, so they may feel like they should be in front heading into the second half. As a spectacle, it can surely only get better after the interval; after all, an Aston Villa victory would see them confirm Champions League football if Tottenham lose later today, so will they may be tired from Thursday’s game, motivation should not be a factor.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:54
HALF-TIME: BRIGHTON 0-0 ASTON VILLA
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:53
SUPER SAVE! Adingra plays Gross through one-on-one with Olsen, and the Brighton midfielder attempts to round the fast-closing Olsen and turn the ball in from close range; however, Villa’s goalkeeper makes an excellent stop with his leg to stop the Seagulls going in front!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:51
From just outside the area, on the right, Joao Pedro flips over a delightful ball towards the back post. Adingra stretches to meet it, but can’t quite make clean contact and allows Olsen to easily claim the loose ball.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:50
It has now been over half an hour since either side managed a shot at goal, as this tame encounter nears its halfway stage.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:48
Due to a couple of injury stoppages, there will be at least five minutes of additional time at the end of this first half.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:47
After a period of concern for Unai Emery, his second-choice goalkeeper is passed fit to continue. For now, Gauci’s Premier League debut will have to wait.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:46
CHANCE! When Welbeck tries to release Adingra through the centre of Villa’s area, the latter collides with Olsen, who charges off his line to make a vital interception. The goalkeeper is left down on the ground nursing his shoulder, though, and will require medical attention.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:45
Having lost their last two Premier League games by an aggregate score of 7-0, today’s first half at least represents some improvement for Brighton. However, they still look toothless up front.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:42
Veltman tees up Gross to deliver a trademark delivery from the right side of Villa’s area, but Douglas Luiz intervenes to cut out the German’s rather tame cutback.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:42
There have been only five attempts at goal so far – Brighton lead the way with four – and the tempo of this game has dropped significantly since the break in play for Rogers’ injury to be assessed.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:39
Cash drops back to stop Buonanotte breaking through into the area, as the stalemate goes on. We’re short of any spark at the Amex, with this game gradually drifting towards half-time.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:38
After beating Dunk on the left side of Brighton’s box, Watkins takes one touch too many and runs into traffic. Veltman takes his chance to snaffle the ball away, and Villa’s star striker is left looking perplexed. It’s a rare wrong decision from the England international – he should have shot.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:35
From their last 12 matches across all competitions, Brighton have scored just five goals – as many as they managed in one game against Sheffield United in February – and they are lacking any clarity in the final third today. It’s all rather aimless at the moment, and De Zerbi is growing impatient on the touchline.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:33
Although Aston Villa are enjoying a sustained spell on the ball, they are going nowhere fast. After an intense European encounter less than four days ago, Unai Emery’s side look a little weary today.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:31
Brighton are edging the possession – 51 per cent to their visitors’ share of 49 – but it remains a finely-poised first half at the Amex. Can the goal-shy Seagulls break through Villa’s vulnerable back line?
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:28
Rogers is back on his feet, but he looks to be heading straight down the tunnel. Surely that’s the end of his game. The action resumes, and Aston Villa are playing with only 10 men – Rogers’ replacement Cash is not ready yet.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:27
Substitution Morgan Elliot Rogers Matthew Stuart Cash
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:25
Off the ball, Rogers sits down on the turf, causing the game to be brought to a halt. He covers his face and awaits the medics’ arrival – it seems this could be some kind of muscular injury. It doesn’t look good.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:24
Adingra gets the better of Konsa again, then attempts an early cross into the box. However, he slips and the ball shoots straight towards Olsen, who comes off his line to claim it confidently.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:22
Having won their last five games against Brighton, Aston Villa are looking to register six straight Premier League victories over an opponent for the first time since between 2005 and 2010 – local rivals Birmingham City were their victims during that spell.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:20
Brighton have already managed two shots on target today – one more than during the entirety of last week’s game against Bournemouth – and they are showing signs that they can test the Premier League’s fourth-placed team.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:18
Webster spots some space on the right flank and clips a long ball over the top, but Gross is caught just offside as he tries to spring Aston Villa’s trap.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:18
Adingra treads on Bailey’s boot in a 50-50 challenge, causing the Villa forward to tumble to the turf. Despite receiving various complaints, the referee decides that’s not worthy of a yellow card, though.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:15
The corner-kick is swung over by Gross from the left, and Welbeck rises to meet it inside the six-yard box. However, it strikes his back and flies over the crossbar.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:14
Konsa can’t cut out a ball out to the left flank, allowing Adingra to run into space and deliver a cross; Villa ultimately scramble it away for a corner, but Brighton are growing in confidence now.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:11
SAVE! Having done well to steal the ball in midfield, Adingra tricks his way past McGinn and then lets fly with a firm strike at goal from around 20 yards out. Olsen has to dive to his right in order to palm it away to relative safety! That’s superb play from the Ivorian!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:09
After Diaby reaches the ball on the lef side of the area, he opens up a shooting angle, but his low shot is sent more or less straight at Verbruggen. It’s been a pleasingly open start so far.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:08
Adingra cuts inside from the left and lines up a shot at goal, but his low strike lacks venom is easily claimed by Villa’s back-up goalkeeper Olsen, who has big boots to fill today.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:07
Digne and Diaby combine on the left, before Rogers almost latches onto the ball in Brighton’s box. The Villa winger topples to the turf under a challenge from Buonanotte, then appeals for a penalty, but both the referee and the VAR are disinterested.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:03
Wearing their traditional claret and blue, Aston Villa kick off, and we are under way at the Amex!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
14:00
The players are out on the pitch, and kick-off in this Premier League contest is now just moments away!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:57
Also making three changes to the starting XI from their last Premier League fixture, Aston Villa are once more without undisputed number one Emi Martinez due to injury. Olsen again deputises for the Argentinian goalkeeper, while Diaby and Diego Carlos replace Cash and Tielemans. Like their hosts, Villa’s absence list is long, with Tielemans now joining others including Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:52
De Zerbi makes three changes to the side that started in Bournemouth last week, as the more experienced trio of Veltman, Webster and Welbeck come in for Offiah, Barco and O’Mahony. Solly March, Evan Ferguson, Kaoru Mitoma, Pervis Estupinan and Tariq Lamptey are among several players consigned to Brighton’s crowded treatment room.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:48
SUBS: Joe Gauci, Matty Cash, Alex Moreno, Calum Chambers, Clement Lenglet, Jhon Duran, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Tim Iroegbunam, Omari Kellyman.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:48
ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Robin Olsen; Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne; Leon Bailey, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Morgan Rogers; Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:42
SUBS: Jason Steele, Julio Enciso, Jakub Moder, Valentin Barco, Carlos Baleba, Ansu Fati, Odeluga Offiah, Cameron Peupion, Mark O’Mahony.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:42
BRIGHTON (3-4-3): Bart Verbruggen; Joel Veltman, Igor, Lewis Dunk; Adam Webster, Facundo Buonanotte, Billy Gilmour, Pascal Gross; Joao Pedro, Danny Welbeck, Simon Adingra.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:36
Aston Villa could seal Champions League qualification today, should results go their way over the next few hours. Despite fumbling a two-goal lead in last week’s game against Chelsea, Villa hold a seven-point lead over fifth-placed Tottenham – who have one game in hand – so they will be assured of a cherished top-four finish with victory at the Amex if Spurs lose to Liverpool later on. The Villans now return to domestic duty after slipping up in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final: serial Europa League winner Unai Emery oversaw a shock 4-2 defeat to Olympiacos at Villa Park on Thursday.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:36
Since beating Roma en route to Europa League elimination in March, Brighton have claimed just two points from six games in the Premier League, and goals have dramatically dried up. The Seagulls have found the net only two times during that time, with their latest setback a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth last week. Roberto De Zerbi’s side now occupy 13th place in the table, and hopes of returning to European competition are effectively over. They were thumped 6-1 at Villa Park earlier this season – their fifth straight league loss to today’s visitors.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:36
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today’s Premier League clash between Brighton and Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium!
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa
13:00
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
