The Unai Emery affect is in full-swing at Aston Villa with back-to-back Premier League wins, after victory at Brighton and Hove Albion
 

Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister got the home side off to an absolute flyer inside the first minute after a mistake by Douglas Luiz. However, Aston Villa responded brilliantly and striker Danny Ings secured a brace to confirm the victory and send his side up to 12th ahead of the World Cup break. 
 

There was a major VAR mistake later into the second-half, and will be a sore point for all Brighton fans coming away from the game but the visitors held on for their first away win of the season. 

  • Starting line-ups 

Brighton Hove Albion

Sanchez (GK), Dunk, Colwill, March, MacAllister, Trossard, Gross, Lallana, Welbeck, Caicedo, Estupinan (4-2-3-1)

Aston Villa

Martinez (GK), Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Ramsey, Kamara, Luiz, McGinn, Buendia, Ings (4-3-3)

  • Story of the match

Pre-game, Unai Emery would have told his Villa side to start off on the front foot and take the game to the home side. Therefore, he will be very disappointed with the start they made. 
 

After fifty-five seconds, Brighton took the lead through Argentinian international Mac Allister. The visitors tried to play out from the back but it was stolen with ease after some poor defending from Douglas Luiz, and the hosts took the lead. 
 

Following the goal, the away side began to grow as the game properly got itself underway after a fast-paced start. Possession, as you may expect, was something both teams were craving and both managed to successfully enjoy large periods of time with the ball. 
 

The only negative with that is that either side failed to really test the opposition goalkeeper, making that possession essentially pointless. 
 

The game spiced up after 19 minutes, when the away side won themselves a penalty. John McGinn made a quick run into the penalty area, and was brought down by Lewis Dunk. The Scotsman may have been on his way down regardless,  but the contact was enough in the referee's eyes to award a spot-kick. 
 

Up-stepped Danny Ings who placed his penalty straight down the middle to make it all-square. Brighton’s Robert Sanchez had never saved a penalty in the Premier League but despite getting a hand on it, he couldn’t keep it out. 
 

The home side then responded quickly with two key efforts, both being kept out. Firstly, Pascal Gross’ in-swinging corner was clawed off the line by Emi Martinez before a last-ditch tackle denied Leandro Trossard a golden opportunity from close-range. 
 

The first-half then fizzled out with neither side managing to really test the goalkeeper, despite both sides enjoying long spells with the ball. 
 

Half time: Brighton and Hove Albion 1-1 Aston Villa

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In truth, the second-half started just as the first-half ended. Both sides trying to get on the ball as much as possible but after just nine minutes, the game took a third twist. 
 

Emi Buendia hit the post for Aston Villa, but the home side failed to clear properly and the ball eventually found striker Danny Ings, who despite failing to connect with the ball properly, slotted past Sanchez to give the away side the lead.
 

Brighton responded with a double change which saw Deniz Undav and Joel Veltman replacing Julio Enciso and Danny Welbeck
 

The only piece of controversy in the game occurred in the 73rd minute when VAR somehow failed to award Brighton a penalty. Villa full-back Lucas Digne attempted to clear the ball but failed to spot Solly March.
 

The Seagulls' man won the ball, whilst Digne went straight through the side of March but neither the referee or a VAR review failed to overturn the decision and Aston Villa definitely got away with one. 
 

Tariq Lamptey came on to replace Pervis Estupinan late on, as a gamble to try and improve the attacking edge for Brighton.
 

However, neither side could muster up a clear goal scoring opportunity and despite two late bookings for Emi Martinez and John McGinn, Aston Villa held on to seal all three points, as well as their first away win since the end of last season. 
 

Full time: Brighton and Hove Albion 1-2 Aston Villa

 

  • Player of the match

The games standout player on the day was definitely Aston Villa striker Danny Ings. The forward scored a brace for the away side, as they climbed back up the Premier League table as well as making it back-to-back league wins for new boss Unai Emery. 

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