Tyrone Mings’ deflected winner breaks Brighton hearts and cements Villa’s top four grip | OneFootball

Aston Villa ended their recent poor run with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park to strengthen their grip on a top-four place.

The decisive moment arrived in the 86th minute when Tyrone Mings’ effort deflected off Jack Hinshelwood and wrong-footed Bart Verbruggen, handing Unai Emery’s side three points they scarcely merited on the balance of play.

Villa struggled to impose themselves for long spells and lacked fluency in possession, yet they found a way to prevail when it mattered most.

The first half was short on quality, with Morgan Rogers’ tight-angle strike comfortably saved by Verbruggen, standing as the hosts’ clearest opening before the interval.

Brighton, who arrived on a difficult run of form, gradually grew into the contest and carried the greater threat after the break.

James Milner, introduced early for his 653rd Premier League appearance to equal Gareth Barry’s all-time record, nearly marked the milestone with a goal but was denied by Emiliano Martinez.

Martinez was called into more serious action just before the hour mark when he produced a superb fingertip save to divert Ferdi Kadioglu’s fierce drive onto the crossbar.

That moment underlined Brighton’s growing control as they dominated much of the second period and appeared the more likely side to find a breakthrough.

Villa, by contrast, were often sloppy in transition and struggled to generate meaningful service for Ollie Watkins, while their usual creative spark was muted.

Emery turned to his bench in search of renewed impetus, but clear-cut chances remained scarce as the match drifted towards a stalemate.

Just as Brighton seemed poised to claim a deserved point, Villa forced a late set-piece situation that ultimately proved decisive.

Mings’ touch in the crowded penalty area took a significant deflection off Hinshelwood and looped beyond Verbruggen, sparking relief around Villa Park.

Brighton pressed forward in the closing minutes but could not muster a response, compounding a run that has now seen them win only once in 13 league fixtures.

The performance was far from convincing for Villa, yet the outcome was invaluable in the context of the race for Champions League qualification.

They remain third in the table and have extended their advantage over key rivals chasing the final qualification spots.

Recent displays had raised questions following defeats on home soil and inconsistent performances, but this result restores momentum at a pivotal stage of the campaign.

Emery’s side may not reflect fondly on the quality of this display, though they will take confidence from grinding out a result when rhythm and cohesion were lacking.

In a congested battle for European places, such narrow victories can prove decisive over the course of a season.

Villa will recognise that improvement is required in upcoming fixtures, yet on a night when fluency deserted them, resilience delivered the reward.