Brighton made three changes for the match against Aston Villa, with Webster, Veltman, and Welbeck coming in. Villa was without Martinez due to injury. The game started evenly with both teams creating chances. Villa's Olsen made crucial saves, while Brighton's Adingra was active in attack. The first half ended 0-0 with both teams struggling to break the deadlock. In the second half, Joao Pedro scored for Brighton, leading to a 1-0 victory. Joao Pedro had a chance for a second goal but was denied. The atmosphere at the stadium was lively, especially in the second half.
Win a free-kick, Joao Pedro raises his arms to the crowd to lift the noise again. Atmosphere has been good, especially second half, 1-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Joao Pedro wants a second penalty in a goalmouth melee, nothing given, 1-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Barco coming on, 1-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
20 goals for Joao Pedro. Baleba and Moder coming on, 1-0 (88). #BHAFC #BHAAVL For Welbeck (gets a standing ovation) and Gilmour.
Adingra's clearance in the area from a corner blocked by Bailey, ricocheted to McGinn who scored from close range. Assistant flagged for offside, disallowed. He was offside, narrowly, still 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Offside by a fraction, Gross's right knee over Cash's right foot. #BHAFC #BHAAVL Still 0-0 (71).
Chance for Enciso, fires over. Break from back to front quickly, Verbruggen's throw, Adingra released Enciso through the centre, 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
"He's been Villa's best player, Robin Olsen" HUGE SAVE! ๐งค https://t.co/C2HQiSiCZW
Adingra with Brighton's second caution for a foul on Konsa, 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Joao Pedro has drifted right of centre, Encisothrough the middle. Joao Pedro put through by Adingra, pursued by Pau. Holds off the Villa defender, Olsen does well to keep it out with his left hand, 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Dangerous cross this time by Adingra, put behind for a corner. De Zerbi tells Enciso to wait, 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Veltman hurt as he halted Bailey, signalled to the bench, but back on his feet, 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Enciso gets the call to come on as Dunk heads away a Villa corner, 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Clever skill by Joao Pedro to beat McGinn and Cash, came to nothing, 0-0 (54). #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Villa's best player that half - undoubtedly - was Robin Olsen One of the worst 45's this season going forward Plenty of excuses. Out of players, out of options. The plan clearly was Rogers through the middle, finding pockets. That's gone. Will have to nick a goal somehow.
HT: Brighton 0-0 #AVFC A drab affair. A game of cat & mouse tactically but two teams (one fatigued, the other low on confidence) with lots of errors. Watkins is trying to isolate Brighton's CBs and looks a possible route, but Villa will need to muster up all the energy possible
Terrific save from Robin Olsen to deny Pascal Gross. He ran off Leon Bailey, who is looking knackered. Considering the injury before that, that's great from Olsen. #AVFC
Joao Pedro's teasing cross just too far for the stretching Adingra to get any power on a stretching volley at the back stick, 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Villa, looking fatigued, have been kept quiet so far. Need to do more going forward to open them up after the promising start revolving around Adingra. Into five minutes added time, 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Welbeck's pass just too far ahead of Adingra, who catches the advancing Olsen with a boot to the chest, keeper receiving treatment (Martinez is currently out with a groin injury), 0-0 (44). #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Robin Olsen gets a wack on the face after a really good intervention. Joe Gauci is out to warm up. #AVFC
Just not quite doing things sharply enough in the build-up, 0-0 (39). #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Emery is trying to gee up his side but a few - such as Leon Bailey who is running and breathing heavily - seem to appear leggy. Emery's asking Watkins to take Webster into the left channel. #AVFC
So, with Matty Cash coming on - Moussa Diaby returns to a more familiar position of next to Watkins, with Cash wide on the right. Bailey on the left. Emery effectively without all his proper No 10s. #AVFC
Rogers off injured. Villa sub not ready, playing with ten for now, 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Gilmour plays Adingra in behind the Villa defence again on the left, ruined by a poor cross, 0-0 (21). #BHAFC #BHAAVL
Emery puts his thumbs up as Pau plays over the top and Verbuggen comes out to clear. Diaby, Rogers, Watkins and Bailey all offering to feet (dragging Brighton players with them), before spinning in behind. It is why Pau (holding onto the ball, inviting pressure) is so key. #AVFC
Difficult for the back four against the pace in Villa's front line. Veltman v Diaby, Igor v Bailey, Webster (and Dunk) v Watkins (Rodgers deeper), 0-0. #BHAFC #BHAAVL Revised role for Diaby, he's not normally on the left.
Igor played in Adingra behind the Villa defence on the left, cross cut out, but Adingra has started the game brightly, 0-0 (11). #BHAFC #BHAAVL
How Emery & De Zerbi build-up means their strikers (Watkins, Pedro and Welbeck) drop into deep areas. Both are trying to coax the other into pressing before playing through/over) the space behind the initial phases of pressure. Brighton have threatened through Adingra. #AVFC
Interesting setup from Emery. Rogers playing off Watkins with two out-an-out wingers - Bailey and Diaby on either flank. Diaby is on the left - asked Emery about this a few months ago and said he was "practising with him" there for certain situations later in the season. #AVFC
๐ต Brighton change three ๐ฃ Villa without injured Martinez Team news ahead of our first Super Sunday game is here! ๐จ
Three changes from the Bournemouth debacle. Conservative for De Zerbi, although choices are limited. In: Webster, Veltman, Welbeck. Out: Barco, Offiah, O'Mahony. #BHAFC #BHAAVL Verbruggen; Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Igor; Gilmour, Gross; Adingra, Buonanotte, Joao Pedro; Welbeck.