Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Aston Villa

Aston Villa’s four-match unbeaten run came to an end in the Premier League as they were undone 1-0 late on by Brighton & Hove Albion.

Joao Pedro saw his 87^th-minute penalty saved by Robin Olsen but was first to react and head home the rebound to secure all three points for the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium.

Olsen had earlier made excellent saves to deny Pedro and Pascal Groß, while the latter saw his second-half finish at the near post ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

It was only a second defeat in their last eight league matches on the road for the Villans, who suffered their first away reverse at Brighton since 1980.

Unai Emery’s side will now be looking to bounce back in the second leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final at Olympiacos.

Pau Torres and Diego Carlos returned to Villa’s starting line-up as head coach Emery made two changes to his XI from Thursday’s first leg against the Greek side.

An open start to proceedings on the south coast saw the influential Simon Adingra sting the palms of Olsen in the eighth minute, while Adam Webster headed over from Billy Gilmour’s corner.

Villa were forced into a change midway through the first half as Morgan Rogers hobbled off due to injury, replaced by Matty Cash.

Olsen collected from Adingra in injury time before making an excellent stop with his feet to deny Groß in the clearest opening of the first period.

But the clash remained finely poised at the break as both sides couldn’t be separated.

Cash went close with a long-range strike in the 56^th minute, while Torres made a crucial interception to clear away danger at the other end with Danny Welbeck lurking.

Villa were indebted to Olsen again just after the hour mark as his outstretched left hand denied Pedro after he raced through on to a pass from Adingra.

Seagulls substitute Julio Enciso lashed over the crossbar before Groß saw his near-post finish ruled out in the 70^th minute following a VAR review.

Jhon Durán was introduced as the visitors searched for a breakthrough, skipper John McGinn seeing his strike ruled out for offside.

Welbeck then headed just wide for Brighton before the hosts were awarded a late penalty for Ezri Konsa’s challenge on Adingra.

Pedro’s spot-kick was parried by Olsen but the Seagulls striker followed up to head in the rebound and bag the only the goal of the game – inflicting only a second defeat in the last 10 meetings between the two sides.