Brighton 1 – 0 A Villa

Joao Pedro netted a late winner to halt Aston Villa’s cost to qualify for the Champions League as Brighton deservedly claimed a 1-0 victory on the Amex Stadium.

Villa, although, want simply three factors at most from their ultimate two matches towards Liverpool and Crystal Palace to safe fourth after Spurs had been overwhelmed 4-2 at Liverpool on Sunday.

However Unai Emery’s aspect appeared jaded after their midweek defeat to Olympiakos with the out-of-form hosts denied the opening aim throughout the second half by VAR when Pascal Gross was dominated offside.

Villa’s John McGinn then discovered the web however he too was offside earlier than Brighton deservedly claimed the factors, Pedro heading within the rebound from his penalty which the good Robin Olsen had saved.

Villa stay in fourth, seven factors above Spurs, who’ve a sport in hand.

How Brighton rocked Villa

Brighton winger Simon Adingra was the most effective participant all through and he pressured Olsen, who crammed in for the injured Emi Martinez beautifully, into an early save.

Villa struggled to seek out any rhythm which was hindered additional when the in-form Morgan Rogers was pressured off in simply the twenty fourth minute with a muscle damage.

Ollie Watkins confirmed his high quality with a pleasant contact to get away from Adam Webster but Villa noticed little or no of the Brighton aim with all of the motion developing the opposite finish.

The hosts had two probabilities in added time with Adingra unable to steer a cross previous Olsen earlier than the Villa goalkeeper made a vital save from Gross at shut vary.

Olsen continued his nice kind within the second half when Adingra performed Joao Pedro by way of on aim and the striker was denied by the towering goalkeeper.

Brighton thought they’d lastly taken the lead when Gross turned in from Igor’s left-wing cross however after a prolonged VAR verify, the aim was dominated out.

Villa then noticed McGinn’s strike flagged offside when he had tucked residence after the ball ricocheted to him contained in the field whereas Brighton striker Danny Welbeck noticed his header drop broad.

Brighton pushed for a winner and bought their reward when Adingra bought the fallacious aspect of Ezri Konsa and went down within the field. Olsen dived to his proper and saved out Pedro’s penalty, however the ball sat up properly for the Brighton ahead to go in.

De Zerbi: We didn’t play the true Villa

Brighton supervisor Roberto De Zerbi stated:

“I am proud as a result of we performed a fantastic sport towards probably the greatest groups within the Premier League. They’re fourth and taking part in towards Unai Emery may be very robust. We performed a very good sport and deserved to win.

“We might have scored extra objectives however, to be trustworthy, Villa weren’t the true Villa. Possibly they had been drained. I can perceive that as a result of they performed on Thursday night and so they have quite a lot of accidents. For that, they could not be the true Aston Villa.

“We performed very nicely within the defensive part however within the offensive part as nicely, we created quite a lot of probabilities to attain. We made errors within the final a part of the pitch, we’ve got to be higher, however we’re unfortunate as a result of [Robin] Olsen was the most effective participant for Villa.”

Emery: We could not repeat Arsenal heroics

Aston Villa supervisor Unai Emery stated:

“[Tiredness] shouldn’t be an excuse for us. We misplaced and did not deserve extra. We competed and had been targeted. We tried to get our probabilities.

“They had been creating extra probabilities than us and corners. We would have liked the goalkeeper and Robin Olsen performed fantastically. Now crucial factor is to recuperate the gamers.

“We performed towards Arsenal two weeks in the past in the identical circumstances, kind of, and we gained there. Right this moment we did not do it and get a very good outcome. We did not deserve extra however we’re constructive, pleased and happy with our work.”

Opta Stats: Villa restricted to 2 photographs

• Joao Pedro’s aim was his twentieth of the season, making him the primary participant to attain 20+ objectives in a single season for Brighton throughout all competitions since Glenn Murray in 2016-17 (23).
• Brighton have overwhelmed Aston Villa at residence within the Premier League for the very first time, and for the primary time at residence throughout all competitions since December 1980, ending an eight-match winless run at residence towards the Villans (D4 L4) since a 1-0 win on the Goldstone Floor underneath Alan Mullery.
• Aston Villa had simply two photographs towards Brighton, their fewest in a Premier League match since Could 2016 vs Newcastle United (additionally 2), whereas solely towards Manchester United in August 2005 (1) have they’d fewer on report within the competitors (from 2003-04).
• Brighton supervisor Roberto De Zerbi picked up his fifth reserving of the season, with no supervisor within the Premier League receiving extra playing cards this season than him (Mikel Arteta additionally with 5). General, De Zerbi has now picked up 11 playing cards within the league throughout his time at Brighton, with the Italian additionally receiving essentially the most playing cards final season within the Premier League (6 – 4 yellow, 2 purple).

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What’s subsequent?

Brighton have three video games remaining of their season. They go to Newcastle on Saturday Could 11, kick-off 3pm, earlier than internet hosting Chelsea on Wednesday Could 15, kick-off 7.45pm. Brighton then end at residence to Manchester United on Sunday Could 19, kick-off 4pm.

Aston Villa journey to Olympiakos for the second leg of their Europa Convention League semi-final on Thursday Could 9, kick-off 8pm. They then function on Monday Evening Soccer on Could 13 at residence to Liverpool, dwell on Sky Sports activities. Kick-off 8pm. Unai Emery’s aspect end the season at Crystal Palace on Could 19, kick-off 4pm.

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