Sussex

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Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi to BBC MOTD: "Today we played a good game against a great team in the Premier League.

"I am a big fan of Villa because they play they are playing very well they are making special in these last two years when Emery started to work with them.

"We knew before the game the level of difficulty of the game but anyway we deserved to win. The truth is Villa today were maybe tired because they played Thursday. They have a lot of injuries as well like Brighton.

"We start to think about the next game at Newcastle."

On an improved performance to last weekend's defeat at Bournemouth: "Today we played with a good first XI and we had the time to work during the week.

"Two different games. Today we played with a good first XI and we had the time to work during the week."

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk, speaking to Sky Sports: "I've missed this feeling, it's been a long time.

"We've not been good enough but it's nice to get back to winning ways.

"We've have a different week this week, away from the training ground and doing a lot of team building. And we've got the three points thankfully.

"We were all disappointed after the Bournemouth game. We've done something different this week.

"We had a day away from the training ground doing different activities and getting that spirit back. It's tough when you're losing, it's not easy. "

Image source, Getty Images

In the early stages of the season, no one would have thought Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton side would look bereft of ideas in front of goal.

That is exactly what is happening at the Amex Stadium despite having just recorded their first win in six matches.

The Seagulls look a shadow of the side who were terrorising Premier League teams last season.

Injuries to key players are partly to blame as are the added games from the Europa League.

Simon Adingra is a constant threat on the left flank, as is Joao Pedro when leading the line but there is a lack of end product from the Seagulls.

However, football is a game of confidence and nothing breeds that like picking up victories.

• Joao Pedro’s goal was his 20th of the season, making him the first player to score 20+ goals in a single season for Brighton across all competitions since Glenn Murray in 2016-17 (23).

• Brighton have beaten Aston Villa at home in the Premier League for the very first time, and for the first time at home across all competitions since December 1980, ending an eight-match winless run at home against the Villans (D4 L4) since a 1-0 win at the Goldstone Ground under Alan Mullery.

• Aston Villa had just two shots against Brighton, their fewest in a Premier League match since May 2016 vs Newcastle United (also 2). Only against Manchester United in August 2005 (1) have they had fewer on record in the competition (from 2003-04).

• Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi picked up his fifth booking of the season, with no manager in the Premier League receiving more cards this season than him (Mikel Arteta also with 5). Overall, De Zerbi has now picked up 11 cards in the league during his time at Brighton, with the Italian also receiving the most cards last season in the Premier League (6 – 4 yellow, 2 red).

• Pedro has now scored 9 Premier League goals for Brighton this season, with only Glenn Murray (13 in 2018-19, 12 in 2017-18), Alexis Mac Allister (10 in 2022-23) and Neal Maupay (10 in 2019-20) scoring more for the Seagulls in a single Premier League season.

Joao Pedro struck a late winner as Brighton put a dent in Aston Villa's Champions League hopes at the Amex Stadium.

The Brazilian headed home a rebound in the 87th minute after his penalty was saved by Robin Olsen.

Pascal Gross had an earlier effort for the hosts ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), while Villa captain John McGinn was also judged to be inches ahead of the Brighton defence before scoring at the other end.

Unai Emery's fourth-placed side remain seven points clear of Tottenham, who have two games in hand and visit Liverpool on Sunday.

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's matches, he takes on Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Aston Villa have got fourth place and Champions League football in their grasp but they still have work to do to get over the line.

Unai Emery's side played the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final with Olympiakos on Thursday, so you think if Brighton could find a bit of energy, they might cause them some problems.

I don't see that happening, though. The Seagulls are missing their spark - for a long time now they not been the same team they were last season - and, as I've said before, the uncertainty over Roberto de Zerbi's future has hardly helped.

Nathan's prediction: 0-2

Read all of the predictions here