Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler stated that there was a “disappointing” ambiance within the dressing room following the Seagulls’ goalless draw towards Brentford.
Brighton have been unable to make their possibilities rely on Friday, registering an anticipated objectives (xG) whole of 1.31 from their 24 pictures, although solely seven of which have been on the right track.
The stalemate noticed Brighton drop to tenth within the Premier League desk, and they’re now and not using a win of their final six top-flight video games after a powerful begin to the marketing campaign.
A visit to Villa Park to face Aston Villa is up subsequent for Hurzeler and his gamers, with the Seagulls head coach preaching positivity forward of their go to to the West Midlands.
“No, I don’t assume [it’s a good point]. It’s a disappointing feeling. Within the locker room it’s not a terrific ambiance. ” However it’s our duty, we have now to be taught to win these video games,” Hurzeler stated.
“It’s about sticking collectively and staying optimistic. There was a clear sheet as we speak and we created possibilities. It’s about getting the sport’s luck again, and the consistency was not good.
“It’s essential that we concentrate on ourselves and attempt to win video games like this. Within the Premier League you’ll want to push your limits and at all times be on the highest stage.
“Possibly we missed this one dash within the field to complete the assault. However we’ve received to remain optimistic and hold the vitality and positivity we had as we speak, after which the outcomes will come.”
Villa, in the meantime, are nonetheless licking their wounds from their Boxing Day defeat to Newcastle United, a recreation that was determined by Jhon Duran’s thirty second minute pink card.
Albeit unintentional, his attraction towards the choice was rejected by the Soccer Affiliation, that means Unai Emery will probably be with out his prime scorer for the subsequent three video games.
However the Villans boss is asking on his squad’s spectacular residence kind to finish 2024 on a excessive, acknowledging sure areas his gamers should enhance on transferring ahead.
“Sure, now Villa Park. Villa Park is the place we have now to really feel sturdy with our supporters as effectively, and comfy, and hold being constant there,” Emery stated.
“In fact, every match, three factors are usually not coming again once more, however we have now to attempt to construct the group, progressively get higher and, in fact, appropriate how we may be aggressive anyway.
“However at residence, we should hold making an attempt to be constant, like within the final matches, with our supporters. The league, the desk, may be very tight, with plenty of groups with a number of factors [between each other].
“In fact, it’s a extra attention-grabbing league, tougher, in fact, however we have now to be optimistic, making an attempt to be taught and to appropriate all the things we’re roughly doing.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins
With Duran, who had began the final 4 Premier League fixtures, suspended after his pink card towards Newcastle, Emery has a reliable substitute in Watkins to fill that void.
The England worldwide has scored extra Premier League objectives towards Brighton than he has towards some other opponent (six), netting a hat-trick on this precise fixture in a 6-1 win final season.
Brighton – Brajan Gruda
Gruda was handed simply his second begin for Brighton towards Brentford on Friday, however he showcased his class towards the Bees.
He created 5 possibilities from open play towards Thomas Frank’s facet, with the German being considered one of solely two gamers aged beneath 21 to create as many in a Premier League recreation this season (additionally 5 by Manchester Metropolis’s Savinho towards Southampton).
MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WIN
Villa have misplaced simply considered one of their final 14 Premier League residence video games (W7 D6) and are unbeaten of their final eight at Villa Park since a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in August (W5 D3).
However the Villans need to win their remaining league recreation in consecutive calendar years for the primary time since between 2007 and 2008, following a 3-2 win towards Burnley of their final recreation of 2023.
And they are going to be out for vengeance. They misplaced their final Premier League assembly with Brighton 1-0 in Could, having gained 5 in a row towards the Seagulls earlier than that.
Brighton have misplaced their remaining recreation of the calendar 12 months in simply two of their seven seasons within the top-flight (W3 D2), with each defeats coming in residence video games towards Arsenal (2020 and 2022).
Coming into this spherical of matches, no group has scored the primary aim in additional completely different Premier League away video games than Brighton this season (seven). Nonetheless, the Seagulls have solely gone on to win three of those video games (D2 L2).
Brighton have additionally gained simply considered one of their 14 away league video games towards Villa (D3 L10), dropping the final three in a row, together with a 6-1 loss final season.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Aston Villa – 51.5%
Draw – 24.7%
Brighton – 23.8%
