Football Dec 07, 2025

Brighton 3-4 Aston Villa: Visitors come from two goals down to win seven-goal thriller to move third in Premier League

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Brighton 3-4 Aston Villa: Visitors come from two goals down to win seven-goal thriller to move third in Premier League

Aston Villa came from two goals down to edge a chaotic seven-goal thriller at Brighton, with their 4-3 win sending them third in the Premier League.

Villa suffered a nightmare start on the south coast as an error from goalkeeper Marco Bizot - a late replacement for Emiliano Martinez - and Pau Torres' own goal saw Brighton go 2-0 up after 29 minutes.

But Ollie Watkins' double, which ended his 11-game goal drought, sensationally brought Villa level before half-time.

Villa completed the comeback through Amadou Onana's 60th-minute header before substitute Donyell Malen scored with his first touch to give Villa a two-goal lead in the 78th minute.

But Brighton threatened a comeback of their own as Jan Paul van Hecke scored his second of the game just five minutes later.

Bizot then atoned for his mistake for Van Hecke's opener with a fine stoppage-time save to deny Brighton substitute Danny Welbeck and ensure Villa held on for a sixth straight win in all competitions.

The dramatic victory moves Unai Emery's side six points off leaders Arsenal, whom they face on Saturday at Villa Park.

Brighton, who suffered a first home defeat this season, drop to seventh but will have the chance to bounce back on Sunday as they host West Ham, live on SportNews.

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins speaking to SportNews:

"I think since the managers come in, I've scored a lot of goals, and got assists. Always find myself playing regularly in the team.

"So to go a prolonged period without scoring and doing that, it does affect you. It has been hard, but you have to just keep picking yourself up, turning up every day, and working hard.

"You get your rewards in the end and and now I can put that behind me and keep looking forward.

"We're in an amazing place. Even though I wasn't scoring, I looked at the bigger picture where we're further in the league.

"Winning every week, what isn't there to love, really? So if I can add goals, it gets even better."

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery speaking to SportNews:

"The players are getting the challenge to be consistent. Marco Bizot was fantastic after Emi Martinez was injured. Marco is a really fantastic guy, fantastic professional. His role is clear and he accepted it. When he is playing like how he did today, we are so, so proud of him.

"Today, as well, Watkins scored goals. Amadou [Onana] scores a set-piece goal. Its something we are working and have been missing. Today we achieved it.

"We've needed other players scoring goals like they did today. I'm proud of how the players are responding. This is the way we want to build, to create here in our structure.

On Watkins: "When Watkins is doing his task, he's playing fantastic. Sometimes scoring, sometimes not. He was a long time without scoring, today he scored and he got that balance. He needs to keep calm and keep going."

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler speaking to SportNews:

"There are small margins that made the difference. it's about how you react and two set-pieces made the difference. These are the small margins. Overall, we saw a team that never gave up and had the belief to win this game.

"Overall, we defended it quite well in the season so far. It's not easy to defend set-pieces. The blocking of the goalkeeper, we still don't have a clear rule for that.

"It's not easy to concede goals and we want to react. We have to challenge adversity we face in the game, and we have to be better.

"It was a matter of small margins. They scored in the second half after two set pieces and that's the difference. We have to do better and keep improving."

Tags:

football report id:531261

Share this article

Related Posts

Championship talking points: Sheffield Wednesday's nightmare scenario, Coventry march on as Wrexham win goalfest against Ipswich

Championship talking points: Sheffield Wednesday's nightmare scenario, Coventry march on as Wrexham win goalfest against Ipswich

A nightmare season was decided in nightmare fashion for Sheffield Wednesday. It couldn't have been scripted any better or worse - depending on what s...

Premier League predictions and best bets: Newcastle to drag Spurs further into relegation picture

Premier League predictions and best bets: Newcastle to drag Spurs further into relegation picture

Our football betting expert Jones Knows provides his insight across the midweek card of Premier League fixtures.Brighton's wobbles are a great betting...

Tottenham boss Igor Tudor delivers home truths after Arsenal thrashing: 'Become serious' and shed 'bad habits'

Tottenham boss Igor Tudor delivers home truths after Arsenal thrashing: 'Become serious' and shed 'bad habits'

Igor Tudor has called on relegation-threatened Tottenham to shed their "bad habits" and become "serious" after they were thrashed 4-1 at home to Arsen...

Viktor Gyokeres: Arsenal striker has best game for club since joining with two-goal display vs Tottenham

Viktor Gyokeres: Arsenal striker has best game for club since joining with two-goal display vs Tottenham

There are still a lot of questions about Arsenal, the title race and what is to come from them in the run-in this season. But one thing is absolutely...

Wesley Fofana and Hannibal subjected to racist abuse after Chelsea's draw against Burnley

Wesley Fofana and Hannibal subjected to racist abuse after Chelsea's draw against Burnley

Wesley Fofana was racially abused on Instagram after being sent off in Chelsea's draw with Burnley on Saturday, with Clarets midfielder Hannibal Mejbr...

Liverpool physicality a worry as Oliver Glasner looks to repair relationship with Crystal Palace fans - Premier League hits and misses

Liverpool physicality a worry as Oliver Glasner looks to repair relationship with Crystal Palace fans - Premier League hits and misses

Arne Slot was right to praise Liverpool's mentality in their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Alexis Mac Allister stepped up. Dominik Szoboszlai showe...