By Aston Villa FC

Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings scored late on as Aston Villa started life under Steven Gerrard with a dramatic 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

With just six minutes remaining, Watkins received the ball from substitute Ashley Young and surged forward down the left channel before cutting inside and sending a sweet right-footed strike into the top corner.

England team-mate and Villa captain Mings then added a second in the 89th minute, sweeping home Adam Webster’s attempted clearance from John McGinn’s cross to seal a fine triumph.

The winning late goals sparked scenes of celebration from the majority of the 41,925 present inside Villa Park as well as newly-appointed Head Coach Gerrard.

The win ends a run of five successive defeats for Villa and ensures Gerrard opens his reign with all three points, the first Villa boss to do so since Gérard Houllier in 2010.

Clear-cut opportunities had previously been limited for both sides before the late drama as defence stifled attack, with Villa keeping a hard-fought clean sheet and becoming the first side to defeat Brighton on their travels in the Premier League this term.

Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion

Gerrard made three changes to Villa’s starting line-up as he named his first XI as Head Coach.

Ezri Konsa, having served his one-match suspension, midfielder Jacob Ramsey and fit-again Danny Ings returned, while Morgan Sanson was named among the substitutes having overcome his recent injury struggles.

Gerrard was given a rousing reception as he walked along the touchline and took his place in the home dugout for the first time.

Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion

And his Villa side started on the front foot, enjoying good possession before Matty Cash’s 12th-minute header forced a smart save from Jason Steele.

The opening half an hour saw both sides trying to impose themselves on the game, albeit with openings hard to come by, Ings inches away from connecting with Emi Buendía’s throughball.

Emi Martínez had to be alert to parry from Leandro Trossard in the 31st minute as the game opened up yet it remained goalless at the interval, with Villa’s Argentinian No.1 out quickly to block from Tariq Lamptey in injury time.

Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion

The hosts started the second half in positive fashion, skipper Mings seeing his header draw a save from Steele.

However the second half went on to follow a similar pattern to the first as both sides attempted to create openings but found resilient defences on top.

Boss Gerrard introduced Leon Bailey in the 66th minute in an attempt to find that crucial breakthrough, Ashley Young soon to follow off the bench.   

And Young contributed in the 84th minute as he fed Watkins, who carried the ball from just inside the visitors’ half before sending an unstoppable effort beyond Steele and celebrating in front of a jubilant Holte End.

Villa were vibrant and Mings was alert to capitalise on Webster’s loose clearance five minutes later to make sure of victory, with the Villans uniting to celebrate with the home faithful after the full-time whistle.

37%

Possession

63%
9

Shots

6
5

Shots On Target

2
5

Corners

6
7

Fouls

13

3

0

Cards

3

0



Aston Villa: Martínez, Targett, Mings, Konsa, Cash, McGinn, Nakamba, J Ramsey (El Ghazi 84'), Buendía (Young 74'), Watkins, Ings (Bailey 66').

Subs: Steer, Sanson, Hause, Davis, Tuanzebe, Carney Chukwuemeka.

Brighton: Steele, Webster, Dunk, Duffy, Cucurella (March 64'), Moder, Groß (Mac Allister 89'), Bissouma, Lamptey (Maupay 79'), Trossard, Lallana.

Subs: Scherpen, Burn, Sarmiento, Locadia, Veltman, Richards.