Just one point separated both Aston Villa and Brighton in the Premier League going into the final Premier League clash in 2024 at Villa Park yesterday evening.
Unai Emery has often spoken about how important Villa’s home form is, so he would have been looking for his players to take home advantage when the Seagulls who have been in poor form recently come to B6.
Emery was forced into a couple of changes with both Jhon Durán and Matty Cash being suspended. Ollie Watkins naturally replaced Durán while Diego Carlos came in at centre back with Ezri Konsa being moved out to the right.
The home side were slow at the traps at Villa Park where the fans seemed to have been struggling with a Christmas hangover.
Following a lengthy stoppage due to a head injury to João Pedro, the visitors took the lead with ease after 12 minutes. Lewis Dunk played a long ball over Villa’s high back-line where Pedro beat Pau Torres and Konsa to the ball before Simon Adingra picked up a loose ball, cutting inside and slotting into the bottom corner. Yet another poor goal conceded by Villa.
Moments later Brighton threatened the Villa goal again. Pedro, once again involved played the ball to Julio Enciso who carried the ball to the edge of the box before unleashing a side foot shot but Emiliano Martínez was equal to the effort pushing wide for a corner.
Villa grew into the game and had a shout for a penalty when Morgan Rogers went down in the penalty box but referee Craig Pawson said no and after a lengthy VAR check, play continued.
Emery’s side was awarded a penalty shortly after however when Rogers was once again brought down in the box. Youri Tielemans sent over a cross from a corner, falling to Rogers and Pedro seemed to kick the Villa winger’s foot. No surprise that it was missed by the referee but VAR soon sent Pawson to the VAR Screen and after another lengthy stoppage, a penalty was awarded.
Birthday boy Watkins stepped up to make it 1-1 sending Bart Verbruggen the wrong way.
Villa took the lead for the first time of the evening early in the second half when Watkins picked up the ball just outside the box before playing a beautiful chip for Rogers who chested the ball down before hitting the ball on the half-volley into the bottom corner.
The home side looked in control until late on when they appeared to take their foot off the gas and Brighton took no time in getting themselves level.
Substitute Kaoru Mitoma picked the ball up out wide and then played the ball to Pedro who then did the same to an unmarked Tariq Lamptey who fired the ball into the bottom left-hand corner giving Brighton a share of the points on the night.
Watkins had an effort late on but could only fire his effort over the bar in a game that Villa will see as two points lost.
Emery: “The point was not enough. How we started was a big mistake but we corrected it and progressively got better.
“The second half we started very well and didn’t concede a lot. They tried to get something more and they did. We were pushing and had the last chance with Ollie Watkins. I think we deserved to win.
“Sometimes it is not enough. We have to be proud of everything we did. We have to try start again to improve thing.”
