Aston Villa were 2-1 up and headed for a much needed home victory to get their top-4 hopes back on track, but Tariq Lamptey struck a sweet equalizer from the edge of the box late on and Brighton escaped Villa Park with a point.
WATCH — Aston Villa v Brighton full match replay
A win would have put Villa 7th in the Premier League table, just four points behind Chelsea in 4th at the halfway point of the season, while also sitting top-5 with two games to go in the Champions League. Instead, Unai Emery’s side (29 points) remains 9th, a half-dozen points behind the Blues and winners of just one of their last four PL games.
The draw is just as unsatisfactory for Brighton (10th – 27 points), who are now winless in seven. Simon Adingra put the Seagulls ahead in the 12th minute, but they were a goal down early in the second half after Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers struck either side of halftime. It was 2-1 into the final 10 minutes, when Lamptey popped up with his second goal of the season (and the month).
Watkins, Rogers, Duran take turns stepping up for Aston Villa
As good as Watkins was en route to 19 goals, 13 assists last season, it was undeniable that at times Villa had become a one-man team. Jhon Duran might score the odd worldy, but most games came down to a simple question: Is Watkins going to score when we need him to? Though the results leave a bit to be desired of late, the trio of Watkins, Duran and Rogers all coming into form at the same time makes Villa an incredibly dangerous team in the second half of the season. All three players have proven themselves capable of winning games in a single moment. Most sides don’t have two (or one) of those players, let alone three of them. A right back in January, please.
Player ratings – Aston Villa vs Brighton
What’s next?
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Aston Villa vs Leicester — Saturday, 10 am ET
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Brighton vs Arsenal — Saturday, 12:30 pm ET
Aston Villa vs Brighton live updates – by Andy Edwards
Aston Villa vs Brighton live score: 2-2
Goalscorers: Simon Adingra (13′), Watkins (36′ – PK), Morgan Rogers (47′), Tariq Lamptey (82′)
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton: Lamptey fires home from the edge of the box (82′)
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Brighton: Rogers puts the hosts ahead right after halftime (47′)
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Brighton: Watkins converts from the penalty spot after a lengthy VAR check (36′)
GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Brighton: Adingra picks up what Pedro put down, and scores (13′)
Aston Villa starting lineup
Martinez – Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne – Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn – Bailey, Rogers, Watkins
Brighton starting lineup
Verbruggen – Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Igor – Ayari, Baleba, Enciso – Gruda, Adingra, Pedro
How to watch Aston Villa vs Brighton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:45 pm ET Monday (December 30)
Venue: Villa Park — Birmingham
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Watch live on Peacock
To make matters worse, striker Jhon Duran was sent off in the 32nd minute so now Aston Villa (9th – 28 points) will be without their leading scorer (12 goals – all competitions) for the next three games. Ollie Watkins will return to the starting lineup after Duran supplanted him and started the last 4 games. Though they will struggle to finish in the top-4 again due to inconsistent form, Villa are doing brilliantly in the Champions League this season and you shouldn’t bet against Unai Emery in European competition.
Not only are Brighton (10th – 26 points) winless in 6 games, but only 1 of the 6 was against a top-half side. It’s not just one thing troubling the Seagulls under new manager Fabian Huerzler. Thus far they have just 5 goals in 5 games in December (1 own goal), and just 4 clean sheets all season. And yet, like so many sides around them in the table, the European places are within reach. Three points is all that separates Brighton in 10th, from Newcastle in 5th.
Aston Villa team news, focus
OUT: Matty Cash (suspension), Jhon Duran (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: Jacob Ramsey (thigh)
Brighton team news, focus
OUT: James Milner (thigh), Evan Ferguson (knock) | QUESTIONABLE: Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), Danny Welbeck (ankle), Mats Wieffer (knock), Adam Webster (hamstring), Jack Hinshelwood (knee)
Aston Villa vs Brighton prediction
It’s hard to see Brighton breaking out of their slump at Villa Park, where the hosts have lost just once this season and won three straight heading into matchweek 19. Aston Villa 2-1 Brighton.
