Aston Villa vs Brighton Report

Scorers: Watkins 36’ (P), Rogers 47’; Adingra 12’, Lamptey 81’

A thrilling encounter at Villa Park ended in a 2-2 draw as Aston Villa battled back from an early setback against Brighton & Hove Albion, who extended their Premier League winless run to seven matches.

First Half: Adingra Punishes Villa’s Error

The match began with Brighton taking full advantage of a Villa defensive mishap. Ezri Konsa’s poor handling of a hopeful long ball from Lewis Dunk allowed Simon Adingra to pounce, curling a precise shot past Emiliano Martínez into the far corner.

Moments later, Julio Enciso almost doubled the visitors’ lead with a curling effort that Martínez expertly tipped away.

The half was marred by interruptions, with injuries and VAR checks disrupting the flow. One such VAR intervention turned the tide in Villa’s favour.

João Pedro lost possession to Morgan Rogers in the Brighton area, and after a lengthy review, referee Craig Pawson awarded Villa a penalty. Ollie Watkins stepped up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick to level the scoreline just before HT.

Second Half: Villa Take Control, Brighton Fight Back

Villa carried their momentum into the second half, taking the lead within minutes of the restart. Watkins turned provider, setting up Rogers, who unleashed a precise shot into the far corner to make it 2-1.

The hosts nearly added a third when Watkins’ powerful header was superbly saved by Bart Verbruggen. That save proved vital as Brighton mounted a comeback. João Pedro, who had been wasteful earlier, set up Tariq Lamptey, who rifled a thunderous shot into the back of the net to restore parity.

Both teams pushed for a winner during a frenetic final phase, but despite six minutes of added time, neither side could find the decisive goal.

What This Means

• Aston Villa: The draw sees Unai Emery’s side miss the chance to break into the top seven, leaving them eighth and within touching distance of European spots.
• Brighton: The Seagulls’ winless streak extends to seven matches, keeping them 11th, still within striking distance of the top half but in need of a turnaround to keep European hopes alive.

Next Fixtures

• Aston Villa: Face relegation-threatened Southampton in a crucial match to strengthen their push for a top-seven finish.
• Brighton: Host Newcastle United in a tricky clash as they seek to end their winless run and climb back up the table.

While the result keeps both sides in contention for their respective goals, Villa’s inability to hold onto their lead and Brighton’s continued winless streak underline the challenges ahead for both teams.

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Aston Villa v Brighton, 2024/25 | Premier League