Aston Villa Leave It Late as Brighton Suffer Cruel Own Goal Defeat | OneFootball

Aston Villa Leave It Late as Brighton Pay Price for Fine Margins

Milner Landmark Overshadowed by Cruel Finale

Aston Villa edged past Brighton in a scrappy contest at Villa Park, securing a late victory that carried far greater significance than the performance itself. The night carried an additional narrative as James Milner, now 40, stepped off the bench early to make his 653rd top flight appearance, drawing level with Gareth Barry’s long standing Premier League record.

It was a moment steeped in longevity and professionalism, a career defined by durability and relentless standards. Yet milestone evenings often demand a decisive footballing act to frame them properly, and this one arrived in the most unfortunate fashion for Brighton.

With the contest drifting towards a draw, Tyrone Mings’ late effort deflected off Jack Hinshelwood in the 86th minute, looping beyond the helpless goalkeeper. The own goal secured three points for Aston Villa, though few inside the stadium would argue it reflected the balance of play.

Photo: IMAGO

Villa Grind Through Below Par Display

Unai Emery’s side remain third, extending their advantage over Manchester United and Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification, but this was far from a performance to reinforce authority.

Villa struggled to impose rhythm or control. Their passing lacked incision, their attacking movements felt laboured, and the usual creative thrust from Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins rarely materialised. Sloppiness in possession invited Brighton pressure, particularly after the interval.

Recent weeks have tested squad depth and resilience. Injuries to key figures such as Boubacar Kamara have disrupted midfield balance, while Youri Tielemans’ absence has reduced composure between the lines. A polished 2-0 win at Newcastle last month now feels distant, both in execution and fluency.

Since that victory, Villa have recovered from 2-0 down to beat RB Salzburg in the Europa League, lost to 10 man Brentford, and drawn at Bournemouth. Performances have dipped, yet results have remained largely functional.

This win followed two successive home league defeats, underlining its importance. Emery will value the grit, even if the quality fell short. In tight qualification races, outcomes outweigh aesthetics.

Brighton Control but Fail to Capitalise

Brighton left the Midlands frustrated, having dictated large spells of the second half. Fabian Hurzeler’s side moved the ball with confidence and pressed with cohesion, forcing Villa deeper as the game wore on.

Emi Martinez proved decisive. He first denied Ferdi Kadioglu, tipping a fierce strike on to the crossbar, a moment that could have altered the trajectory of the evening. Later, Milner himself tested the Argentine after replacing Carlos Baleba in the 22nd minute, showing that even in limited minutes he retains competitive edge.

Brighton’s structure allowed them to progress through midfield with clarity, and they looked the more likely scorers entering the final stages. For long periods, they appeared set to leave Villa Park with a deserved point.

Instead, fortune swung brutally against them.

Form Slide Tells Harsh Story

Brighton’s broader league form paints a worrying picture. One win in their last 13 Premier League fixtures has seen them slide from fifth to 14th. Yet statistics alone mask the competitiveness within those matches.

Six draws highlight how frequently they have been within reach of positive results. Narrow defeats have defined this run, including losses by single goal margins against Arsenal, Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Aston Villa twice. Liverpool’s 2-0 victory stands as the heaviest setback in that sequence.

Fine margins continue to punish them. Had Martinez not produced his fingertip save from Kadioglu, Brighton may have led. Had Hinshelwood’s deflection travelled inches wider, they would have claimed a point.

Supporter frustration has surfaced, with some fans directing chants of “sacked in the morning” at Hurzeler during the recent defeat to Crystal Palace. Such reactions feel premature. Brighton finished eighth last season and began this campaign strongly, building credit that should temper short term volatility.

Performances remain competitive, organisation intact, and attacking patterns coherent. What they lack currently is decisive fortune in key moments.

For Aston Villa, this was a night of perseverance over polish, of outcome over artistry. For Brighton, it was another chapter in a sequence where effort goes unrewarded.

In the race for Champions League places, Villa march on. Brighton, meanwhile, search for the marginal gains that turn endeavour into points.