[Albion] Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion *** Official Match Thread ***

[Dick Head]

Aston Villa v Albion

PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: Villa Park
Date: Saturday 20th November 2021
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn
Fourth Official: Stuart Attwell
VAR: Peter Bankes
Additional VAR: Lee Betts
​

TEAM NEWS

New Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard has Danny Ings and Ezri Konsa available after illness and suspension respectively.

The game is expected to come too soon for Douglas Luiz and Morgan Sanson.

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is suspended so there will be a Premier League debut for Jason Steele, who has been with the club since 2018.

Enock Mwepu is out with a minor muscle strain but Aaron Connolly has overcome a heel injury.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• 
  [*=left]Aston Villa won their first Premier League game against Brighton with a stoppage-time goal in October 2019 but haven't led in any of the subsequent three meetings (D2, L1).
  [*=left]Brighton earned their first competitive away victory at Aston Villa in last season's corresponding fixture, at the 13th attempt (D3, L9).

Aston Villa

• 
  [*=left]Villa have suffered five successive Premier League defeats, their worst run since an 11-match streak from February to April 2016.
  [*=left]They've conceded 13 goals in their past five games. Steven Gerrard's Rangers conceded 13 goals in 38 league fixtures last season.
  [*=left]Villa have the worst first-half record in the division this season, leading only once at the break.
  [*=left]Only two of the previous 12 permanent managers to take charge of Aston Villa in the Premier League have won their first game for the club: John Gregory in 1998 and Gerard Houllier in 2010.

Albion

• 
  [*=left]Brighton are winless in six top-flight matches, drawing five, having won four of their opening five league fixtures this season.
  [*=left]Nonetheless, they are one of three clubs with an unbeaten Premier League away record in 2021-22, alongside Chelsea and West Ham.
  [*=left]Albion's only longer unbeaten away run from the beginning of a season was 12 matches in the Championship six years ago.
  [*=left]The Seagulls have conceded seven goals in their past three Premier League games.

Graham Potter's Aston Villa Press Conference

 

[Easy 10]

Enock Mwepu is out with a minor muscle strain but Aaron Connolly has overcome a heel injury.

*deep sigh*

 

[OzMike]

Bore draw.

 

[Beach Hut]

So excited

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Off for 18 at Hollingbury then searching for my ball in a stream around 14:50 this afternoon.

Mrs G out tonight so today could well be glorious

 

[Perfidious Albion]

We need this. Never mind a new manager bounce, we are quite capable of beating Villa IF the team and manager gets it right.
We have had too many draws ..... make this a win! ️

 

[Marty___Mcfly]

I would love to see Stevie G ‘slip up’ on his first day in charge in the Prem.

1-3 - an Albion victory is overdue

UTA

#StillLoose

 

[Guinness Boy]

On the rattler. Every bit as excited as Beachy


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[scooter1]

Happy to see the back end of another international break, and get back to some real football. Nervous about this one, but probably only because of the new manager factor. No predictions as I usually get them wrong

 

[Javeaseagull]

Lawro has us down for losing to Villa. Nailed on victory for the good guys in that case.

 

[Peter Grummit]

Anyone planning on watching in a bar in Cadiz?

Bit of a long shot.

 

[bhafc99]

Two months since our last league win, I’d REALLY like us to get 3pts today, think it’s getting important that we win again. But am nervous that it’ll be our first away defeat, for some reason. One of those games that feels like it could genuinely go either way.

 

[Wrong-Direction]

2-1

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[moggy]

Happy to be away for this one.
Unhappy we have to play Steele in goal

 

[southstandandy]

Wonder whether we'll go for a 3rd game in a row without starting a 'recognised striker'. Worked well at Anfield, less so v the Saudis.

Maupay on the bench again?

 

[Eric the meek]

We've got a weakened side - no Sanchez, Mwepu or Locadia.

 

[Beach Hut]

On the rattler. Every bit as excited as Beachy


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A mixed Seagull/Hammer express

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

The Times suggesting that Tross is at risk because of close contact with De Bruyne, who is covid positive.

 

[oldboyroy]

Had a horrible feeling about this game and still have living and working in brum amongst the villa fans. Hoping we'll shut them up today but fear a 3 goal hiding in 1st half and we'll get 1 back 2nd half but lose 3-1

 

[Gabbafella]

Steele in goal is not a good start, Connolly being fit makes things even worse, no Mwepu is a big loss, still no Welbeck and I have a horrible feeling Trossard won't be selected.
Sorry to be all doom and gloom but I can only see this going the way of villains, no good guy victory today.