Unai Emery made it back-to-back Premier League wins as Aston Villa secured a 2-1 win against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Brighton found the back of the net within the first 90 seconds of the match with Alexis Mac Allister’s goal, but Villa managed to strike back and take control.
“The players were feeling like they were bottom of the Premier League and two big victories have given us confidence to achieve the next position, looking up,” Villa’s newest manager, Emery, said. “I think the confidence is coming for each player – that’s what results give you. I am so proud of our players. We competed very well today. We didn’t play brilliant, but we played like we needed when they scored so quickly.”
Emery made three changes since the club’s last Premier League fixture against Manchester United. Boubacar Kamara, John McGin and Danny Ings were in the startling eleven, replacing the likes of Leander Dendoncker, Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins.
“It is very important to win away,” Emery added. “It’s the first match we win away and I think we can be happy.”
Ings has now scored four goals in four Premier League matches for Villa since Steven Gerrard left; he had scored five goals in 31 matches under Gerrard.
“You can see the confidence growing in the team now,” Ings said. “[Unai Emery has made] a lot [of difference]. He’s only been with us a short time but we’ve come a long way already. We’ll have a break now and try to implement as much as he wants to install with us.”
Brighton dominated the possession battle, 65-35, but finished with just two shots on goal. Brighton also had nearly three times as many corner kicks than Villa did, but were unable to make the chances count.
“Before coming to the Premier League I always vote for fair play, but I didn’t see much today and this is the work of the referee,” Brighton manager, Roberto De Zerbi, said. “We played well. A good game. It wasn’t a top game for us. We didn’t deserve to lose this game, for this I’m sorry as I wanted to close the first part of the season on 24 points. But my players gave 100 per cent in terms of attitude and energy.”
They have now lost four of eight matches under De Zerbi, with two wins and two draws; they have just two losses in their prior 15 matches under Graham Potter – who is now with Chelsea.
Brighton now have a division-high seven Premier League goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches this season.
Brighton are back in league action after the World Cup break on Boxing Day away at Southampton. Aston Villa host Liverpool that same day.
