Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler stated that there was a “disappointing” environment within the dressing room following the Seagulls’ goalless draw towards Brentford.
Brighton have been unable to make their probabilities rely on Friday, registering an anticipated objectives (xG) complete of 1.31 from their 24 photographs, although solely seven of which have been heading in the right direction.
The stalemate noticed Brighton drop to tenth within the Premier League desk, and they’re now with out a win of their final six top-flight video games after a powerful begin to the marketing campaign.
A visit to Villa Park to face Aston Villa is up subsequent for Hurzeler and his gamers, with the Seagulls head coach preaching positivity forward of their go to to the West Midlands.
“No, I don’t suppose [it’s a good point]. It’s a disappointing feeling. Within the locker room it’s not an excellent environment. ” However it’s our duty, we’ve to be taught to win these video games,” Hurzeler stated.
“It’s about sticking collectively and staying constructive. There was a clear sheet right now and we created probabilities. It’s about getting the sport’s luck again, and the consistency was not excellent.
“It’s essential that we deal with ourselves and attempt to win video games like this. Within the Premier League it is advisable to push your limits and at all times be on the highest stage.
“Possibly we missed this one dash within the field to complete the assault. However we’ve received to remain constructive and maintain the power and positivity we had right now, after which the outcomes will come.”
Villa, in the meantime, are nonetheless licking their wounds from their Boxing Day defeat to Newcastle United, a sport that was determined by Jhon Duran’s thirty second minute pink card.
Albeit unintentional, his enchantment towards the choice was rejected by the Soccer Affiliation, that means Unai Emery will likely be with out his high scorer for the subsequent three video games.
However the Villans boss is looking on his squad’s spectacular dwelling type to finish 2024 on a excessive, acknowledging sure areas his gamers should enhance on shifting ahead.
“Sure, now Villa Park. Villa Park is the place we’ve to really feel sturdy with our supporters as properly, and cozy, and maintain being constant there,” Emery stated.
“After all, every match, three factors should not coming again once more, however we’ve to attempt to construct the group, progressively get higher and, in fact, appropriate how we could be aggressive anyway.
“However at dwelling, we should maintain making an attempt to be constant, like within the final matches, with our supporters. The league, the desk, could be very tight, with a variety of groups with a couple of factors [between each other].
“After all, it’s a extra fascinating league, tougher, in fact, however we’ve to be constructive, making an attempt to be taught and to appropriate all the things we’re kind of doing.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins
With Duran, who had began the final 4 Premier League fixtures, suspended after his pink card towards Newcastle, Emery has a reliable alternative in Watkins to fill that void.
The England worldwide has scored extra Premier League objectives towards Brighton than he has towards some other opponent (six), netting a hat-trick on this precise fixture in a 6-1 win final season.
Brighton – Brajan Gruda
Gruda was handed simply his second begin for Brighton towards Brentford on Friday, however he showcased his class towards the Bees.
He created 5 probabilities from open play towards Thomas Frank’s facet, with the German being one in all solely two gamers aged beneath 21 to create as many in a Premier League sport this season (additionally 5 by Manchester Metropolis’s Savinho towards Southampton).
MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WIN
Villa have misplaced simply one in all their final 14 Premier League dwelling video games (W7 D6) and are unbeaten of their final eight at Villa Park since a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in August (W5 D3).
However the Villans need to win their ultimate league sport in consecutive calendar years for the primary time since between 2007 and 2008, following a 3-2 win towards Burnley of their final sport of 2023.
And they are going to be out for vengeance. They misplaced their final Premier League assembly with Brighton 1-0 in Could, having received 5 in a row towards the Seagulls earlier than that.
Brighton have misplaced their ultimate sport of the calendar yr in simply two of their seven seasons within the top-flight (W3 D2), with each defeats coming in dwelling video games towards Arsenal (2020 and 2022).
Coming into this spherical of matches, no group has scored the primary aim in additional totally different Premier League away video games than Brighton this season (seven). Nonetheless, the Seagulls have solely gone on to win three of those video games (D2 L2).
Brighton have additionally received simply one in all their 14 away league video games towards Villa (D3 L10), dropping the final three in a row, together with a 6-1 loss final season.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Aston Villa – 51.5%
Draw – 24.7%
Brighton – 23.8%
