Aston Villa 0-1 Brighton

Aston Villa were beaten 1-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion at the Banks’s Stadium on Saturday.

Maya Le Tissier’s first-half effort was the difference on a day where Villa lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

The result was the side’s second consecutive defeat inside three days and leaves them without a home win since September.

Carla Ward named an unchanged XI for the third successive game after Wednesday’s impressive performance against Everton, albeit in defeat.

Villa absorbed a considerable amount of pressure during the opening stages, with Brighton fizzing the ball into the opposing penalty area on several occasions.

A good chance was created at the other end, however, when Alisha Lehamnn wriggled her way into the Brighton area before drilling a low effort into the hands of Megan Walsh.

The game simmered down as the first half went on, and Brighton turned the pressure up once again before opening the scoring on 28 minutes.

Maya Le Tissier ventured forward for a corner kick, and flicked the ball home at the far post to give the Seagulls the advantage.

Villa regained their composure and began to enjoy more of the ball in Brighton’s half.

They almost equalized in some style on 38 minutes, too.

Ramona Petzelberger brought the ball down inside the box before setting it back to Sarah Mayling who stung the palms of Walsh with a fierce drive that looked destined for the top corner.

The second half was a cagey one as Brighton set up shop to preserve their lead.

Meanwhile, Villa showed plenty of effort and endeavour but struggled to manufacture any clear openings.

Hopeful crosses were thrown in consistently by both Maz Pacheco and Sarah Mayling during the closing stages, but everything was handled expertly by Walsh in the Seagulls goal.

Villa must now regroup ahead of a trip to Chelsea next weekend.