Brighton beat Aston Villa 1-0 on Sunday as the Seagulls finally got back to winning ways.
Simon Adingra was excellent throughout and won a penalty kick with five minutes to go as Joao Pedro headed home the rebound after the brilliant Robin Olsen saved his penalty.
With the win, their first in seven games, Brighton move on to 47 points, while Aston Villa remain on 67 points.
Villa running out of steam
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have run out of steam as their 4-2 defeat at home to Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League semifinal first leg on Thursday proved. Villa never got going on Sunday at Brighton and looked so sluggish and were never able to gain control of the game. Given how intense their season has been with the Thursday-Sunday grind and that they’ve reached the final four of the Conference League and are close to clinching Champions League qualification in the Premier League, this is understandable. Villa’s squad has been stretched to its limits and they have achieved great things. But they were so far off it at Brighton that it doesn’t bode well for the second leg of their Conference League semifinals at Olympiacos on Thursday as Emery aims to oversee a remarkable comeback.
Brighton vs Aston Villa player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see Simon Adingra stood out for Brighton as he was relentless with dribbling and direct runs. Joao Pedro and Pascal Gross were also pushing forward at every opportunity.
What’s next?
Brighton head to Newcastle on Saturday, May 11. Aston Villa host Liverpool on Monday, May 13.
How to watch Brighton vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 9am ET Sunday (May 5)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch live online via NBC.com
Brighton vs Aston Villa final score: 1-0
Pedro 87'
Brighton vs Aston Villa live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Full time: Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa
The Seagulls deserved to win but the penalty kick they won late on was controversial. Villa just didn’t turn up and looked very tired after their defeat at home against Olympiacos on Thursday.
Olsen saves the penalty... but Pedro heads home the rebound - Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa (87th minute)
Joao Pedro’s penalty is decent but Olsen gets down low and saves really well. But the ball pops right up to Pedro who heads home.
Penalty to Brighton
Konsa gives Adingra a nudge and he goes down very easily. That is a soft penalty to Brighton with just over five minutes to go.
Villa now with a disallowed offside goal VAR is having a look at
The ball bounces straight to John McGinn who takes a touch and finishes well, but he was just offside.
Brighton thought they had taken the lead but VAR rules out Gross’ goal
Pascal Gross taps home and Brighton get a deserved goal. But hang on. VAR is having a look at Gross’ kneecap and it is offside. The home fans are furious. No goal. Aston Villa have just 0.06 expected goals during this game.
Olsen denies Pedro, Enciso fires over
Brighton are denied by Olsen again. A couple of really good stops from him today, then Julio Enciso fires over from a good position. Brighton are having a real go. 20 minutes to go.
Matty Cash smashes one just wide
The ball drops to Cash and he smashes a shot just wide from distance.
Half time: Brighton 0-0 Aston Villa
The Seagulls have dominated possession but are really lacking confidence going forward and Aston Villa look very tired. Brighton look the most likely to take the lead but the longer it stays 0-0 the more you fancy Villa to nick it on the counter.
Gross denied by Olsen
Adingra plays it over the top to the onrushing Gross and he takes a good first touch around Olsen but the Villa goalkeeper stands tall and saves well at his near post.
Adingra almost in
A slip from Bailey allows Brighton to get in and Welbeck’s pass is just a little too heavy as Adingra is almost in but Olsen comes out bravely to save.
Not much going on
Brighton are enjoying plenty of the ball but Villa are looking more solid and organized and the Seagulls are struggling to create any clear openings. Villa were almost end at the other end but Watkins couldn’t quite sort his feet out after getting past Lewis Dunk.
Corner is knocked just over
A brilliant corner causes problems and a whole host of players jump up for the ball and it looked like it flicked off the back of a Villa defender as the ball flies just over the bar.
Adingra goes close
Lovely dribble from Adingra as he gets past three players and then smashes a shot on goal which Olsen pushes away for a corner. Adingra has started the game really well and Villa are spending most of their time defending.
Brighton lineup
Verbruggen; Webster, Dunk, Igor, Veltman; Gilmour, Gross; Adingra, Pedro, Buonanotte; Welbeck
Aston Villa lineup
Olsen; Konsa, Torres, Carlos, Digne; Bailey, Diaby, Luiz, Rogers; McGinn; Watkins
Brighton focus, team news
OUT: Kaoru Mitoma (lower back), Jean Paul van Hecke (thigh), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Tariq Lamptey (undisclosed), Solly March (knee), Jack Hinshelwood (ankle), James Milner (thigh), Pervis Estupinan (ankle), Adam Lallana (muscular)
OUT: Kaoru Mitoma (lower back), Jean Paul van Hecke (thigh), Evan Ferguson (ankle), Tariq Lamptey (undisclosed), Solly March (knee), Jack Hinshelwood (ankle), James Milner (thigh), Pervis Estupinan (ankle)
Aston Villa focus, team news
Villa have been rolling out the same team for a while and given their Europa Conference League semifinal first leg against Olympiacos on Thursday, Emery will surely rotate a few players in and out. But he has preferred to keep the lineup settled as the likes of Watkins, McGinn, Konsa, Luiz and Bailey should all start. Also, Morgan Rogers has been a revelation in recent weeks and Moussa Diaby is playing a more prominent role.
OUT: Boubacar Kamara (torn ACL - out for season), Emiliano Buendia (torn ACL - out for season), Tyrone Mings (torn ACL - out for season), Jacob Ramsey (foot) | QUESTIONABLE: Emiliano Martinez (thigh), Alex Moreno (calf), Youri Tielemans (groin)