Aston Villa overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Brighton 4-3 in a pulsating Premier League clash at the Amex, moving Unai Emery’s side up to third in the table.
Brighton dominated the early stages and were 2-0 up inside 29 minutes after a costly error from goalkeeper Marco Bizot — who started after Emiliano Martínez was ruled out with a back injury in the warm-up — and an own goal from Pau Torres. Villa responded in stunning fashion: Ollie Watkins ended an 11-game drought with two superb first-half strikes to haul his side level before the interval.
After the break Villa continued their fightback. Amadou Onana headed them in front on 60 minutes, and substitute Donyell Malen made an immediate impact by scoring with his first touch in the 78th minute to make it 4-2. Brighton struck again five minutes later when Jan Paul van Hecke nodded in his second, but Bizot redeemed himself with a stoppage-time save from Danny Welbeck to seal Villa’s sixth consecutive win in all competitions.
The result leaves Villa six points behind leaders Arsenal ahead of their meeting at Villa Park on Saturday. Brighton, suffering their first home league defeat of the season, drop to seventh and will turn their attention to an upcoming home fixture with West Ham.
Injury and selection
Emi Martínez missed the match after picking up a back problem in the warm-up, Emery later confirmed. Bizot — thrust into action at short notice — was culpable for Brighton’s opener but produced a crucial late stop to preserve the win.
What the key figures said
Ollie Watkins: ‘It was tough going through a dry spell, but you keep working and the rewards come. The team is in a great place and I’m glad to contribute again.’
Unai Emery: ‘The players showed resilience. Marco was fantastic in reaction after the injury to Emi. We needed other players to score and they did — that’s how we want to build.’
Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton): ‘Small margins decided the game. Two set-pieces made the difference. We must improve how we deal with those situations.’
Milestones and context
– This was Emery’s 62nd Premier League win with Aston Villa, the most by any manager in the club’s top-flight history, surpassing John Gregory and Martin O’Neill.
– It was only Villa’s third Premier League comeback from 2-0 down away from home.
– Brighton conceded three at home and still lost in a league game for the first time since December 1999.
Selected player ratings
Brighton: Verbruggen 6; Van Hecke 8; Dunk 5; Tzimas 6. Subs: Hinshelwood 7; Welbeck 6.
Aston Villa: Bizot 6; Cash 6; Torres 6; Onana 8; Rogers 8; Watkins 9. Subs: Malen 7. Player of the Match: Ollie Watkins.
Looking ahead
Both sides turn quickly to their next fixtures as the season progresses: Villa host Arsenal in a high-profile clash, while Brighton prepare to welcome West Ham as they seek a response to this narrow defeat.