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'All his hard work is paying off' - Hart on Rashfordpublished at 12:13 BST 3 April
12:13 BST 3 April
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart says Marcus Rashford looks happy at Aston Villa and has got back the feeling of playing well and being appreciated.
Hart said: "It feels like all his hard work is paying off at the moment and he's in a team that believes in him. He does [look happy] and it's great to see.
"The past is the past. He just wants to be a footballer who plays well and is appreciated. He's had that feeling before and he lost it. We all know what you want when you've had that feeling - can you get it back. He has shown everything in himself, deep down, to get back to that feeling."
Media caption,
Are Villa starting to get the best out of Rashford?
Brighton 0-3 Aston Villa - the fans' verdictpublished at 11:47 BST 3 April
11:47 BST 3 April
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Brighton's Premier League match against Aston Villa. Here are some of your comments:
Brighton fans
Jon: Another game in which Brighton are outperformed by a physically stronger and well organised team. Just as they did with Everton and Nottingham Forest, Brighton seemed lightweight compared with Villa.
Fran: Very lacklustre from the Seagulls with too many passes going astray, poor decision-making around the Villa goal and a defence that seemed very unsure. Also, I am not sure why we play the ball into the corner and give defenders time to get across in numbers and block everything. We need to be more aggressive and direct and somebody needs to take responsibility and have a shot at goal instead of passing it! Never normally leave a game early but I did with this. Nothing to get excited about.
Rob: Scoreline really did not reflect the game. The disallowed goal, which was a marginal decision, changed the game. Looking forward to next season when something is done about the ridiculous time-wasting, which is spoiling the game for spectators.
Villa fans
James: Not our best performance but it just shows the mentality of the team now, winning when not completely firing. Also being able to bring those sort of players off the bench to change and influence games is amazing.
David: Brighton were very good but our quality showed in the end. Two assists for Morgan Rogers and great to see Donyell Malen score and get some love from the fans. Every game between now and the end of the season is a cup final for us to make the top five. It's lucky Emery is a bit of cup specialist!
Mike: Boubacar Kamara is just special - he's our Rodri, and he's no less of a player. One of, if not the most underrated players in world football. Love him!
January business 'the perfect advert' for Aston Villapublished at 10:27 BST 3 April
10:27 BST 3 April
Phil McNulty Chief football writer
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa's second-half goals against Brighton all came from players who arrived at the club in January, the perfect advert for a fiercely ambitious manager in Emery and the progressive thinking of co-owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
There was undoubtedly an element of gamble about Villa's work in January, but it is paying off as their season moves towards a potentially glorious conclusion fuelled by their work in this month.
It is a strategy reflected in results, with Villa's latest win putting them just three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City in the table with eight games left.
Before Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio made their league debuts, Villa had played 24 games, winning 10, drawing seven and losing seven with a points-per-game ratio of 1.54.
In the league games since, they have played six, won three, drawn two and lost one at 1.83 points per game - with both players making crucial contributions in the FA Cup and Champions League.
It remains to be seen if Villa can persuade - or indeed want - Asensio and Rashford to extend their stays, but the results in the short term are bringing rich dividends.
In a January window often characterised by panic buys and a desire to correct errors from the summer window, Villa have played it smart and can move towards the season's conclusion with huge optimism and expectation.
Gossip: Villa keen to extend Kamara's dealpublished at 07:40 BST 3 April
07:40 BST 3 April
Aston Villa are hoping to tie France midfielder Boubacar Kamara, 25, to a "historic" new contract to fend off interest in the summer. (Foot Mercato - in French), external
'Those three points are very important for the table' - Emerypublished at 23:14 BST 2 April
23:14 BST 2 April
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to Sky Sports: "Every match we are facing is very difficult. More or less our challenge now is to try to be more consistent than we were before.
"Brighton have been very good in their matches here. The opponent was with us and we competed very well. We had enough chances to score and we were clinical.
"We weren't performing very well defensively and conceding more goals than usual. Today is a clean sheet and we are getting balance. Those three points are very important for the table. On Saturday we have Nottingham [Forest] and we know how difficult that will be.
"Try to be compact defensively and respect the opponent. Win some duels. This is the only way I know.
"Keep going is the message for him [Marcus Rashford]. Playing more minutes means he's getting physically better, he's scoring more goals. We're playing him as a striker and trying to compete with [Ollie] Watkins. Maybe going forward we can play them together.
"Try to exploit his [Rashford's] qualities. He's in the best confidence moment. On Sunday we planned to play him as a striker and he scored two goals so I decided to go again and he scored.
"We will analyse the match today and prepare for Nottingham Forest. The table is very tight. They are going fanatic this year. They are feeling confident, feeling so comfortable playing each match being successful."
Brighton 0-3 Aston Villa: Did you know?published at 22:43 BST 2 April
22:43 BST 2 April
Image source, Getty Images
Marco Asensio has scored eight goals in his past seven appearances for Aston Villa in all competitions. In fact, since his debut for the Villans he's scored more goals than any other Premier League player (eight in all competitions).
'Champions League is the main goal'published at 22:11 BST 2 April
22:11 BST 2 April
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, speaking to Sky Sports: "We knew this was an important game for us, it was must win. We came to win and that's what we did.
"The Champions League is the main goal. We'll focus on Saturday, another big one for us.
"I thought defensively we were excellent. All 11 of us stuck together. I didn't feel threatened at all. We managed to get them on the counter-attack a few times and we got a few goals.
"It was the desire from everyone. We've kept a few clean sheets in a row. In the last few games we've shown we can do it.
On goalscorer Marcus Rashford: "He's got a smile on his face again. He looks like he's enjoying football again. I'm so pleased for him.
"We have to take it game by game. Now it's all eyes on Saturday."
Ramsey 'not at all dazzled' by playing for boyhood clubpublished at 16:24 BST 2 April
16:24 BST 2 April
Mike Taylor BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, Getty Images
"It's so good, man," said Jacob Ramsey - and it was. He had already taken a moment with the club photographer to see how a great day had been captured for posterity. "Growing up, I was a Villa fan. I know what it means to go to Wembley."
Every good Aston Villa team of recent memory has had at least one player with that authentic local connection - Gary Shaw, Ian Taylor, Lee Hendrie, Stan Collymore, Gabby Agbonlahor and others - able to appreciate the scale of the team's footballing achievements, not only with his head, but with his heart.
Dean Smith took that connection into the manager's office. There is no doubt the Villa players from the rest of the world also get what it means to the fans and give their all accordingly, but if it is the club to which you have been dedicated your whole life, you are going to feel something extra.
Now Premier League squads are collections of worldwide talent, the hometown boy can sometimes be underestimated, almost a sentimental presence in the squad. They can also be viewed mainly as bargaining chips, representing pure profit in PSR terms.
All indications are that Unai Emery does not see Ramsey like this.
For understandable reasons, Ramsey's name was often suggested as a saleable asset last summer, when Villa were flirting with the financial limits. But whenever asked about him, Emery has strongly insisted that he wants Ramsey around.
"Teams may be involved in the possibility to sign him, because he is a potentially big, big player for Aston Villa and England," Emery said last summer. "I want to keep him here - 100%."
Injuries have held him back at times in the past year or two, but Ramsey has re-established himself as a regular pick, even in such a powerful squad. He has proved himself efficient, competitive and smart, working out what the team needs.
On Sunday, he talked thoughtfully about the alterations needed to support Marcus Rashford up front rather than Ollie Watkins, in a manner that suggested a clear thinker of the game at such a high, technical level.
The boy from Great Barr is living out the dreams of the 5,000 in the away end at Preston and many thousands more who will watch him at Wembley.
Ramsey appears not at all dazzled by the experience of playing for his childhood club alongside elite-level talent, and is proving himself worthy of equal billing.
'Exhausted stumble quite likely but glory still a possibility'published at 14:17 BST 2 April
14:17 BST 2 April
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa are one win off the Champions League places, they are in the quarter-final of the Champions league with Paris Saint-Germain waiting and they have just sauntered into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Villa are on the brink of the most incredible season. No other team in England are still fighting on all three fronts, but it might still be considered a failure if they slip up now.
The problem is that this slip, or exhausted stumble, is quite likely. They play a gruelling seven games in 22 days from now, including those two against PSG, Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi at Wembley and three of the others are against direct rivals for that top-five spot.
Villa have faltered at the final fence before so this run-in will seriously test them, but notice the phrase "quite likely" at the start of the last paragraph. Failure is not a certainty, glory is still a possibility. This is a stronger and deeper squad than they have had for some time and with Marcus Rashford being reborn just before Easter the Midlands miracle can still happen.
I am not convinced they will reach all three objectives, but any one of them should make it a season to be celebrated and not bemoaned for opportunities lost.
The best English centre-back? Villa fans on what everyone is missingpublished at 10:44 BST 2 April
10:44 BST 2 April
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on the thing no-one is talking about Aston Villa, but really should be.
Here are some of your comments:
Theo: Nobody is talking about the fact Ezri Konsa is one of the best all-round centre-backs in the league and at this moment, he is the best for his country. Despite our horrid defensive record this season, he has been top quality almost every week, rarely puts a foot wrong, and if he had a consistent partner on his left (bearing in mind he's had, Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres, Diego Carlos, Lamare Bogarde and even Lucas Digne at one point) maybe our record wouldn't be as bad as it is. He's definitely already cemented his ticket to the 2026 World Cup - I think only an injury would cost him that.
Prit: Ezri Konsa. Konsa has been the rock of our defence for the past two years and his versatility means he is an England regular. I would like to postulate that not only is he Villa's best defender, that he must be England's first choice in defence and could even be a future England captain. Secondly, Boubacar Kamara. While the spotlight is on our wonderful strikers and Marco Asensio in midfield, I feel Kamara has been the glue that has held this Villa team together this season. In my opinion, he is our player season and we play much better when he is in the side.
Tariq: Can Marcus Rashford push Ollie Watkins out of the team? He has shown he can play up front on his own as per Unai Emery's preference. Watkins, who can offer more than goals, isn't as prolific at the moment and Rashford offers more from set-pieces.
Jason: No-one is talking about how frustrating Watkins can be. If only he had that split-second ruthless streak. Over thinking everything is his downfall and we'd be far better off with him instantly pulling the trigger more often or a forward who has Alexander Isak-like qualities. Arsenal are welcome to Watkins for £70-80m in my opinion.
David: How will Villa comply with PSR? After aggregate losses of over £200m in the past two financial years that implies we will need to make a profit of around £100m this year to comply with the £105m 3 year rolling allowed losses rule. The dramatic increase in revenue will help as will the sale of Jhon Duran but I fear we may have to sell a key player again (after Douglas Luiz last year and Duran this year), which will weaken the team.
Chris: The amount of money we are spending on players wages as a percentage of turnover. Players wages don't go down, do they? Even if you regularly sell your high earners (who are, in theory, your better players), there surely aren't many players of the required level coming to sign on and replace them for a significant reduction in wages that would bring the wage bill down? We have the manager and squad geared up for regular European football just as the top half of the league has become more competitive than ever. What happens when our income drops? Emery has worked miracles so far but there's only so much he can do.
Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Aston Villapublished at 10:37 BST 2 April
10:37 BST 2 April
What a season Aston Villa are having, with a Champions League quarter-final and FA Cup semi-final to look forward to.
Their recruitment in January has been key - a lot has been made of how well Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio are playing after joining on loan, and rightly so.
Whether Villa can turn them into permanent signings in the summer might depend on whether they get in next season's Champions League, however.
While this is exactly the scenario they want, finishing in the top five is going to be tough on top of everything else, and it is games like this where everything might catch up with them.
Brighton drew a blank against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Saturday but Villa are a bit more expansive, and I feel like the Seagulls will have plenty of chances here.
Brighton v Aston Villa: Did you know?published at 08:30 BST 2 April
08:30 BST 2 April
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton have won just one of their five Premier League home games against Aston Villa, which was in this exact fixture last season (1-0 in May).
Brighton have won each of their past three Premier League games at Amex Stadium and are looking to win four home matches in a row for the very first time in the top flight.
Excluding penalties, no side has scored more goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season than Aston Villa (13), but only Brentford (three) and Manchester City (five) have conceded fewer goals from set plays in the competition this term than Brighton (six).
What's the one thing no-one is talking about?published at 16:34 BST 1 April
16:34 BST 1 April
It has been a strange season at Villa Park, but one that could end up being truly historic.
Despite inconsistent league form at times, Villa are in a Champions League quarter-final, an FA Cup semi-final, and only three points behind Manchester City in fifth.
But, aside from the trophy quest and push to ensure Champions League football once again, we want you to tell us the thing no-one is talking about at Villa Park but really should be.
Emery on team news, being 'more consistent' and quick turnaround of gamespublished at 15:35 BST 1 April
15:35 BST 1 April
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Brighton (kick-off 19:45 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
"It will be difficult" for forward Leon Bailey to be available after suffering a knock and missing Tuesday's training session.
Midfielder Ross Barkley has returned to training so could be in contention.
On being the only team left fighting on three fronts: "We have demanded ourselves to be focused in the last two months and we remain in three competitions. I would like to reduce the number of goals conceded. That was better on Sunday but tomorrow is a very good test again."
He said "there are a lot of teams fighting" for a European spot so they need to "be more consistent playing at the level" he expects from them.
On the quick turnaround from Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final at Preston: "We are happy. Of course, four days to rest is better than three, but it is not an excuse. We are not focusing on that. We are just trying to prepare as best as possible for this match. Rest, good food and being less on the field, and more analysis."
He said he will be assessing which of his players are "full of energy and physically ready to play" again and a decision will be made hours before the game.
'A season teetering between defining glory and missed opportunity'published at 12:45 BST 1 April
12:45 BST 1 April
David Michael Fan writer
Image source, PA Media
Aston Villa's FA Cup semi-final place at Wembley brings a sheen of success to a season that is fascinatingly teetering between defining glory and missed opportunity.
It also drops yet another fixture into a jam-packed April that already includes a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Paris St-Germain and pivotal Premier League games. It is the kind of congested calendar that can either forge heroes or drain momentum.
For Villa, the first of hopefully two trips to Wembley offers a vital safety net. Even if their Champions League push falters in the league and they come unstuck against PSG, the FA Cup provides a tangible shot at silverware and, crucially, a route to European football next season.
With Unai Emery having coached in European competition for 16 consecutive seasons, you sense it is almost non-negotiable - for him, for the club's upward trajectory and for a fan base now used to midweek continental nights.
Yet the stakes remain cruelly high. This team could end up in two finals and still walk away with nothing - no trophy, no Europe. That uncertainty might explain why Villa have not released their ticket prices for next season yet; the persona of next season could be entirely different depending on how this one finishes.
If you are Emery looking at the run-in, the first priority now is restoring clarity and calm. Strip back the noise. Nail down the strongest XI. Introduce rotation only where necessary, not for the sake of it.
And, most importantly, get the players believing again that this is not a campaign to survive - it is one they can define. Because the moment the fear of failure overtakes the opportunity of glory, it has already gone.
Has cup football got its magic back this season?published at 08:59 BST 1 April
08:59 BST 1 April
Media caption,
Some 31 of the past 36 FA Cups have been won by one of five teams - but only one of those remains in this season's competition, and that is Manchester City.
Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all knocked out before the quarter-final stage this season and that has opened the door to other clubs to have a chance at getting their hands on the trophy.
"The cup used to be a lot more democratic and dominance of the cup used to be unthinkable," said New York Times chief football correspondent Rory Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "That is unhealthy and it gets boring.
"It takes away a lot of the magic because if you go to seven semi-finals in seven years it takes the shine off.
"But most people don't support those clubs and they support other teams, so Newcastle have been a great advert to why other teams should be going all in for those tournaments."
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "Newcastle's win will change the perception of the competitions that have almost felt second in importance to most Premier League teams."
