This has been the most damaging week of Aston Villa’s season. A shock home defeat to Olympiakos followed by a tired defeat at Brighton has put their league and European ambitions in severe jeopardy.
Joao Pedro’s late goal was the difference in the scoreline but the difference in performances was stark, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side fully deserving of victory.
The goal, scored on the rebound after the excellent Robin Olsen had saved the initial effort, was the first Brighton have scored since Danny Welbeck’s strike at Anfield on March 31st.
Victory here would have all but assured Villa’s return to elite European Competition for the first time in 42 years when Peter Withe’s shin was enough to beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in the European Cup Final.
But their place remains in doubt, as does this season’s run in the Europa Conference League, following a 4-2 home defeat to Olympiakos in the first leg of the Semi-Final. Emery made only two changes to that team for the trip to East Sussex, with Pau Torres and Diego Carlos returning to the starting line up, a decision he may now be regretting.
Joao Pedro scored a late winner for Brighton against Aston Villa after he had missed a penalty
Pedro’s goal saw Aston Villa suffer a setback in their race to gain a berth in the top four
Brighton’s Pascal Gross also had a goal ruled out for offside 68 minutes into the second half
Victory would have all but assured Villa’s return to the Champions League for the first time in 42 years
It meant that Emery was still without the injured Emi Martinez so Olsen deputised once more as Emery admitted ‘it’s not easy to replace the best goalkeeper in the world.’ Olsen though, was the best performer in a disappointing Villa display.
A first-ever qualification for the Champions League would do a lot to assuage the disappointment of being knocked out in Piraeus next Thursday but Villa looked like the first leg had taken it out of them here.
It was Brighton, and in particular, Simon Adingra, who were by far the better side. Adingra had the games’s first shot, cutting in off the left and then shooting tamely at goal for Olsen to gather. Five minutes later, Adingra had a more powerful effort which Olsen beat away to safety.
There were handfuls of empty seats at the normally capacity Amex, reflective perhaps of the Seagulls taking just two points from the last 18, a run which has seen their season peter out to mid-table mediocrity.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side had the better of the early exchanges and almost took the lead when Welbeck – starting his 200th Premier League game – connected with Billy Gilmour’s corner with his shoulder and the ball looped narrowly over.
The most entertaining sight of the half was Emery’s gesticulations as he relentlessly paced his technical area. He left the Fourth Official in no doubt about his thoughts on a challenge on Leon Bailey and also offered Stuart Attwell his sweater in protest at Ollie Watkins not being awarded a free-kick for a pull on his shirt. Emery was dealt a blow when Morgan Rogers was forced off with an injury after 25 minutes, necessitating a reshuffle with Matty Cash on to replace him.
Watkins – or any Villa forward – saw little of the ball in the first half but the England striker did have one beautiful touch to take him away from Lewis Dunk and into the Brighton penalty area before being dispossessed.
Unai Emery’s frustrations were visible, with the Villa boss gesticulating at his players from the touchline
European qualification would have done a lot to assauge the pain of Villa’s loss in midweek
The Brighton players applauded their supporters after they secured their first win in six games
It was a game of few chances but Brighton had a flurry of them just before the break. First, Welbeck played in Adingra who collided with Olsen as the Villa keeper raced from his line to gather the ball. Then Ivorian winger Adingra then latched onto a cross from Joao Pedro but failed to make a firm connection at the far post.
Finally the ebullient Adingra picked out Pascal Gross who looked to have stepped round Olsen before the Swedish keeper recovered superbly to save his shot.
Villa had more purpose after the break but were again indebted to Olsen as he denied Joao Pedro at point-blank range after Adingra had again come infield from his left-wing berth to wreak havoc.
The chances were stacking up for Brigfhton and another came and went as substitute Julio Enciso fired over when well placed after John McGinn had missed his clearance.
Brighton had the lion’s share of chances, having 15 attempts on goal compared to Villa’s two
Pedro had also missed a penalty in the second half before he took his goal in the 87th minute
The Amex erupted when Gross touched in Igor Julio’s cross at the near post but it was disallowed after a lengthy VAR check and the frustrations grew.
Eleven minutes from time, the same situation played out at the other end. Bailey blocked Adingra’s attempted pass and the ball fell straight to John McGinn who slotted it home before VAR stood up the on-field decision of offside.
With the game into the final ten minutes, Welbeck then went close with a looping header from Enciso’s cross before Jones pointed to the spot after Ezri Konsa clipped Adingra’s heels after a one-two with Joao Pedro.
Joao Pedro stepped up and saw his effort brilliant saved by Olsen to his right but he reacted quickly to head in the rebound.