Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Aston Villa 0.
Joao Pedro struck a late winner as Brighton put a dent in Aston Villa's Champions League hopes at the Amex Stadium.
The Brazilian headed home a rebound in the 87th minute after his penalty was saved by Robin Olsen.
Pascal Gross had an earlier effort for the hosts ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), while Villa captain John McGinn was also judged to be inches ahead of the Brighton defence before scoring at the other end.
Unai Emery's fourth-placed side remain seven points clear of Tottenham, who lost 4-2 at Liverpool on Sunday but have a game in hand.
Having suffered a disappointing loss to Olympiakos in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night, Villa missed the chance to strengthen their hold on fourth with two matches left.
They were sluggish throughout and Brighton looked to have taken a deserved lead in the 68th minute when Gross met a Pedro cross with a clever finish, but VAR ruined his celebrations.
The Seagulls had found Villa keeper Olsen - replacing the injured Emiliano Martinez - in fine form, but kept pressing.
When winger Simon Adingra went to ground in the box under a challenge from Ezri Konsa, referee Robert Jones pointed to the spot.
It was almost in keeping with the game that Pedro had his penalty pushed away by Olsen, but the striker was sharp enough to nod home the rebound.
Roberto de Zerbi's side moved up to 11th in the table after ending a disappointing six-match winless run and claiming their first home success against Villa since 1980.
Brighton struggling for goals
A lack of goals is not something often associated with De Zerbi's Brighton, but they have now only scored five times in their last 10 Premier League fixtures.
The Seagulls started the game full of attacking intent but clear-cut chances were hard to come by in a scrappy encounter.
Sweden international Olsen produced two fine saves in either half to deny Gross and then Pedro as Villa's backline was breached.
Brighton's free-flowing style was a highlight of an impressive start to the season, but they looked to have lost confidence.
Adingra and Pedro showcased their talent on occasions but there seems to be a lack of cohesion between the Brighton attack as their campaign nears a frustrating end.
But for Pedro's 20th goal of the season, it would have been a third successive game without scoring.
Emery needs to lift Villa after miserable week
Villa fans have suffered more than most this week with successive defeats.
Before the Europa Conference League semi-final first leg tie with Olympiakos, they were full of hope and expectation.
There was disbelief after the 4-2 home loss and the loss to Brighton will further add to their misery.
Three points for Villa would have put one foot in the Champions League next season and given them a lift for their second-leg return in Greece.
Emery will need to pick up his players up for one last push to make sure they don't blow the chance of making this season a memorable one.
Player of the match
GilmourBilly Gilmour
Brighton & Hove Albion
Avg
- Squad number11Player nameGilmourAverage rating
7.24
- Squad number9Player nameJoão PedroAverage rating
7.04
- Squad number24Player nameAdingraAverage rating
6.91
- Squad number5Player nameDunkAverage rating
6.89
- Squad number19Player nameBarcoAverage rating
6.87
- Squad number13Player nameGroßAverage rating
6.71
- Squad number18Player nameWelbeckAverage rating
6.66
- Squad number15Player nameModerAverage rating
6.62
- Squad number1Player nameVerbruggenAverage rating
6.54
- Squad number4Player nameWebsterAverage rating
6.51
- Squad number40Player nameBuonanotteAverage rating
6.50
- Squad number10Player nameEncisoAverage rating
6.48
- Squad number34Player nameVeltmanAverage rating
6.47
- Squad number20Player nameBalebaAverage rating
6.47
- Squad number3Player nameIgor JulioAverage rating
6.39
Aston Villa
Avg
- Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
6.13
- Squad number25Player nameOlsenAverage rating
5.87
- Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating
5.61
- Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating
5.38
- Squad number31Player nameBaileyAverage rating
5.01
- Squad number27Player nameRogersAverage rating
4.97
- Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating
4.95
- Squad number14Player nameP TorresAverage rating
4.92
- Squad number19Player nameDiabyAverage rating
4.88
- Squad number12Player nameDigneAverage rating
4.84
- Squad number3Player nameDiego CarlosAverage rating
4.84
- Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating
4.78
- Squad number24Player nameDuránAverage rating
4.05
- Squad number15Player nameÁlex MorenoAverage rating
3.77
- Squad number16Player nameChambersAverage rating
3.76
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Verbruggen
- 34Veltman
- 4Webster
- 5Dunk
- 3dos Santos de Paulo
- 13GroßBooked at 49mins
- 11GilmourSubstituted forBalebaat 88'minutes
- 40BuonanotteSubstituted forEncisoat 61'minutes
- 9João Pedro
- 24AdingraBooked at 63minsSubstituted forBarcoat 90+3'minutes
- 18WelbeckSubstituted forModerat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Enciso
- 15Moder
- 19Barco
- 20Baleba
- 23Steele
- 31Ansu Fati
- 42Offiah
- 44Peupion
- 55O’Mahony
Aston Villa
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 25Olsen
- 4KonsaSubstituted forChambersat 90'minutes
- 3Diego Carlos
- 14P Torres
- 12DigneSubstituted forMorenoat 90'minutes
- 7McGinn
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 31Bailey
- 27RogersSubstituted forCashat 26'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 19DiabySubstituted forDuránat 73'minutes
- 11Watkins
Substitutes
- 2Cash
- 15Moreno
- 16Chambers
- 17Lenglet
- 18Gauci
- 24Durán
- 29Kesler-Hayden
- 47Iroegbunam
- 71Kellyman
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
- Attendance:
- 31,596
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away2
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Aston Villa 0.
Post update
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Diego Carlos.
Booking
Matty Cash (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Valentín Barco (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Matty Cash (Aston Villa).
Post update
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Igor Julio.
Post update
Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. João Pedro is caught offside.
Post update
Hand ball by Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa).
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Valentín Barco replaces Simon Adingra.
Post update
Foul by Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Post update
Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Pau Torres.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Julio Enciso (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Simon Adingra.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Álex Moreno replaces Lucas Digne.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Calum Chambers replaces Ezri Konsa.
Post update
Simon Adingra (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa).
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Carlos Baleba replaces Billy Gilmour.
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Jakub Moder replaces Danny Welbeck.
Comments
Join the conversation
Overall, I am relieved to see Brighton get a win after their performance from the last few games.
I was honestly expecting a loss but they performed far better today and dominated attacking possession.
Villa still in driving seat for Champions League spot.
The Villa players looked shattered the whole game. Even conceding the goal made no difference to their play.
They just did not seem to have the energy to up the tempo.
and Birmingham , Spurs , Chelsea and Man U fans wish they had Villas problems
UTV
: )
Good luck in the CL next season, get your act together in the UECL, and fight back from this.
As for VAR - the continuing menace to the game.
That being said Brighton deserved the win.
Villa are 7 points clear of Spurs...
Spurs have 2 games in hand, which even if they win both, they'll still be a point behind them...
Spurs have to play Liverpool now.. so they won't win that...
And even if Villa don't win again this season, they'll still finish 4th...
Why?....
Cos it's Spurs....