Aston Villa 6-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

Ollie Watkins netted as hat-trick as rampant Aston Villa registered a sensational 6-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion - recording 10 successive Premier League victories at Villa Park for the first time in 40 years.

The Villa striker was unplayable against the Seagulls and picked the perfect way to bring up 50 goals in claret in blue, firing the hosts into a 2-0 lead inside 21 minutes before completing his hat-trick just after the hour mark in front of the Holte End.

Superb Villa were three goals to the good after just 26 minutes as Pervis Estupinan’s own goal from Moussa Diaby’s strike capped a stunning opening quarter.

Brighton substitute Ansu Fati handed the visitors brief hope after the break before Watkins completed his treble to restore Villa’s three-goal advantage.

He then turned provider as he claimed an assist, setting up Jacob Ramsey to curl home a sweet fifth off the inside of the far post late on.

Watkins was denied a fourth deep into injury time as Jason Steele's parried save broke for Douglas Luiz to make it 6-1, becoming the first Villa player to score in five consecutive home league games since Dwight Yorke in 1996, as the stunning Villans recorded three league wins in a row in dominant fashion.

Even more impressive is Villa’s 10-match winning home record in the league, which stretches back to March, as Unai Emery’s side moved level with Albion on 15 points.

History was on Villa’s side heading into the encounter having won the last four meetings and lost only one of the last 16 stretching back to 1981.

Watkins, Emi Martínez, Lucas Digne, Boubacar Kamara and Nicolò Zaniolo all returned to Villa’s starting line-up from the side who faced Everton in the Carabao Cup in midweek, with head coach Emery naming the same XI who triumphed 1-0 at Chelsea last Sunday.

Martínez was called upon to make an early save from Estupinan, but it was Villa who broke the deadlock with 14 minutes on the clock.

John McGinn fed Matty Cash down the right channel and he slid a low ball across the side-yard box for Watkins to apply a smart finish.

The Villa striker curled wide moments later as he searched for a quick second, and it duly came in the 21^st minute as the hosts pounced on a defensive mistake.

Joel Veltman mis-placed a pass to Diaby, who fed Watkins down the left and he surged forward before cutting inside and slotting past Steele at his near post.

And Villa were in dreamland just five minutes later as they made it 3-0.

The hosts won possession in a dangerous area and Digne found Watkins in the penalty area, who laid the ball off for Diaby and he saw his initial shot parried by Steele before firing home a second attempt on the rebound which deflected off Estupinan and in.

Solly March headed over as the Seagulls threatened a quick response, but it was Villa who were celebrating a fantastic half of football as they led 3-0 at the break.

But the Seagulls gave themselves a lifeline within five minutes of the restart as half-time substitute Fati converted from close range.

The goal gave the visitors impetus and momentum yet Villa stood strong through a challenging spell, and duly struck to make it 4-1 shortly after the hour mark as Watkins completed his hat-trick.

McGinn found the Villa striker with a neat ball and he cut inside before drilling a left-footed strike which deflected off Adam Webster and past Steele.

And sub Ramsey completed a memorable afternoon in the 85^th minute as he received the ball from Watkins before curling home off the far post from the edge of the area – sending the Villa Park faithful into raptures.

And they were celebrating yet again in the seventh minute of added time as Luiz followed up to convert after Watkins' initial strike had been saved by Steele.