Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa: Seagulls scrap to win late on
Brighton host Aston Villa on Sunday with the Seagulls aiming to get out of their slump, while Villa are closing in on Champions League qualification.
Roberto De Zerbi seems to have checked out at Brighton and so have his team. They lost 3-0 at Bournemouth last weekend and they have failed to scored in eight of their 15 Premier League games in 2024. That was after scoring in a joint-high 39 different games in 2023. The regression has been stark since the Seagulls went out of the Europa League and with De Zerbi looking very likely to move on this summer, there is a lot of uncertainty around the Seagulls. Injuries have hit them hard all season long and Brighton's European exploits stretched their small squad to its limits as they've won just three of their last 15 Premier League games.
The exact opposite is true for Villa as Unai Emery's side are closing in on qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. After their 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea last weekend they sit fourth in the Premier League table and have a seven-point lead over Tottenham with three games to go (Spurs have two games in-hand) as their incredible season continues. They're also enjoying themselves in Europe as this game is sandwiched in-between their Europa Conference League semifinals against Olympiacos. Villa hammered Brighton 6-1 in the return game at Villa Park earlier this season and have won five in a row against Brighton, outscoring them 14-3.
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)
