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

[Dick Head]

Aston Villa v Albion

PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: Villa Park
Date: Monday 30th December 2024
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Darren Cann, Daniel Robathan
Fourth Official: Gavin Ward
VAR: Stuart Attwell
Additional VAR: Stuart Burt
​

TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran begins a three-match ban after the club's appeal against his red card away to Newcastle United was rejected.

Matty Cash is also suspended as a consequence of accumulating five bookings but midfielder Jacob Ramsey could return to the matchday squad after overcoming a hamstring injury.

Brighton & Hove Albion will assess Mats Wieffer, Ferdi Kadioglu, Adam Webster and Jack Hinshelwood, who all missed Friday's draw with Brentford.

Danny Welbeck remains out because of an ankle problem.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Aston Villa have won eight of their nine top-flight home matches against Brighton, including a 6-1 victory early last season when Ollie Watkins scored a hat-trick.
• Brighton's solitary win in 16 competitive away fixtures against Villa came in November 2020 when Solly March scored the decisive goal.

Aston Villa

• Villa have lost five of their past nine league games, having only suffered one defeat in their opening nine top-flight fixtures this season.
• Nonetheless, they are on a eight-match unbeaten home run in the Premier League, while their only defeat in the past 14 top-flight games at Villa Park was 2-0 against Arsenal in August.
• Aston Villa have kept just two clean sheets in their 18 Premier League matches this season, at home to Manchester United and Southampton.
• Ollie Watkins has scored six goals in seven Premier League appearances versus Brighton.

Albion

• Brighton are winless in six league matches, drawing four of them, since beating Bournemouth 2-1 on 23 November.
• They are unbeaten in their final league fixture of a calendar year on each of the last four occasions it was an away game since a 2-0 Championship defeat at Coventry City in 2011.
• Albion have dropped 16 points from winning positions this season, second only to Fulham's 17.
• Joao Pedro has gone six league appearances without a goal, having scored four in his first six top-flight matches this season.

Fabian Hürzeler's Aston Villa Press Conference

 

[Insel affe]

Wheelie excited about this one, we seem to always win against the valiants, anywayz I’m already heading off early to the second capital of our great nation Birmington.

Up the strips.

 

[jimhigham]

Oh, blimey! We’re usually extra pants on Monday nights too.

 

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Have we ever won on a Monday in the EPL?

 

[Insel affe]

Oh, blimey! We’re usually extra pants on Monday nights too.

I think someone needs to go back to bed for an extra hour and get up in a more positive mindset

 

[Insel affe]

Have we ever won on a Monday in the EPL?

You two, get back to bed or have a cuppa Joe and give yourself a happy

 

[Swegulls]

Can't see us losing ...

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I've got a feeling about this one

 

[Greg Bobkin]

This next game could be season-defining. These are a good side.

 

[Flounce]

Wieffer likely to be out again according to today’s Argus.

JPVH and Lewis one booking away from suspension.

Is our coach blind, or just in denial? He didn’t notice the toenail offside decision we got against Brentford?

“I don’t remember one big chance for Brentford” says FH

 

[Mortdecai]

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

I’m going into every game now with a “I expect very little attitude”, and this one is absolutely no different.

If I’m being absolutely honest though, I think we may be on the end of a filthy spanking tonight, just to bookend a horrible 2024.

 

[Mancgull]

Wieffer likely to be out again according to today’s Argus.

JPVH and Lewis one booking away from suspension.

Is our coach blind, or just in denial? He didn’t notice the toenail offside decision we got against Brentford?

“I don’t remember one big chance for Brentford” says FH

Or JPVH’s block?

 

[Beach Hut]

So excited

 

[Goldstone1976]

were loose

 

[Flounce]

I’m going into every game now with a “I expect very little attitude”, and this one is absolutely no different.

If I’m being absolutely honest though, I think we may be on the end of a filthy spanking tonight, just to bookend a horrible 2024.

I concur, it’s Villa away, we are in a poor run of scoring and if we do, holding the lead. I have a feeling of impending doom about this game. However I got a 2 in Wordle for the first time ever on a match day thread so I hope I am surprised by a similar upturn in fortune for the Albion.

Now where are those straws.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

We are going to get hammered.

 

[Zeberdi]

My boss is a very smug and puffed up AV fan - I’m not going back to work on 6 January if we lose - in fact I might just fcuk off on a winter holiday without letting them know

 

[heathgate]

They haven't got Duran or Cash playing.... helpful.... but that brings Watkins back in...Duoh!!!

 

[Coldeanseagull]

I'm very 'meh' for this one. I'll probably partake in an alcoholic beverage and hurl abuse at the dodgy stream I'll be watching