Unai Emery was left frustrated a figure on Monday night as Aston Villa failed to capitalise on their dominance in an eventual 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
The result leaves Aston Villa in ninth place in the table with 29 points at the halfway stage of the season, while Brighton trail the Villans by just two points in 10th place, having recorded their league-high ninth draw of the campaign.
Despite the quality that both sides are very capable of producing, it was an old school goal that broke the deadlock as Lewis Dunk sent a long ball forward, with the bounce being misjudged by two Aston Villa defenders, allowing Simon Adingra to pounce on the loose ball inside the box and send his shot curling past Emi Martinez in the Villa net.
The Villans took the initiative after the opener as they searched for a way back into the game, and when Morgan Rogers appeared to be upended inside the box it seemed they had found their route, only for a VAR check to deny the penalty, but minutes later and Rogers was brought down again, with an even lengthier check eventually awarding a spot kick, and Watkins needed no second invitation as he fired Villa level.
The barrage against Brighton continued immediately after the half-time restart, and just two minutes after kick-off, Ollie Watkins turned provider as he unselfishly clipped the ball to the back post for Rogers to chest down and half-volley into the far corner, returning the favour to his teammate for winning the first-half penalty.
Brighton's threat eventually returned and improved after they narrowly survived a period of Villa dominance, and the Seagulls were rewarded for their attacking intent when Tariq Lamptey started a move with a surging run before finishing it off with a powerful finish into the bottom corner, a goal that secured the dramatic draw.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Emery has rightfully become an adored figure for his remarkable accomplishments since joining Aston Villa, lifting them from a relegation-threatened side to competing in the Champions League, but the tides feel like they may be starting to turn in recent months.
After enjoying another strong start to this campaign, his side now sit ninth in the table, six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, and have won just four of their last 14 Premier League fixtures.
His in-game management and defensive tactics have both come under rightful criticism from Aston Villa fans, and the Spaniard desperately needs to find new solutions next year if they are to climb back up the table and compete for European spots.
As for Brighton, Fabian Hurzeler's side have already drawn nine out of 19 fixtures this season, a worrying statistic that shows their inability to hold onto leads, a problem that reared its head again here.
While they are clearly a talented team that play some beautiful football at times, Hurzeler seemingly needs to tell some of his attacking players to stop forcing an extra pass and sometimes take a shot on goal.
Outside of that, the Brighton manager can be happy with his men's defensive performance, standing strong against periods of wave after wave of Villa attacks throughout the match and ultimately taking a good point from a difficult trip to Villa Park.
ASTON VILLA VS. BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION HIGHLIGHTS
12th min: Aston Villa 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (Simon Adingra)
© Imago
Brilliant from Adingra, Brighton have the lead!
Brighton initially look to play out from the back, but finding no way through, Dunk decides to send the ball in behind the Aston Villa defense, with Joao Pedro and Adingra chasing it down.
Pedro gets a slight touch on the ball, taking the two Villa defenders out of the game as they rush past the resulting loose ball, allowing Adingra to collect inside the box and clinically curl into the far corner.
36th min: Aston Villa 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (Ollie Watkins)
© Imago
Watkins is back in the side and back amongst the goals!
A lengthy VAR check takes place for a potential foul on Rogers by Pedro, who attempts to clear a loose ball inside the box from a corner but appears to catch the leg of the Villa midfielder.
The penalty is eventually awarded, and Watkins steps up, making no mistake as he converts it into the bottom left, sending the keeper the wrong way.
47th min: Aston Villa 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (Morgan Rogers)
© Imago
What a start to the half for Villa, Rogers has fired them into the lead!
Brighton fail to clear their lines from a corner on several occasions, and the ball eventually falling to the feet of Watkins just outside the area.
Watkins unselfishly chips his pass from the left to the right of the box, where Rogers chests it down and half-volleys into the bottom left corner, a wonderful finish.
81st min: Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion (Tariq Lamptey)
© Imago
Lamptey with a superb finish, Brighton are back level!
Lamptey starts the move with a driving run from his own half, with the ball being switched out to Kaoru Mitoma on the left wing via Pedro, where the winger cuts the ball back to the Brazilian inside the box.
Pedro takes a touch before flicking his pass into the space in front of Lamptey, who steps onto it and smashes the ball into the bottom left corner with a lovely finish.
MAN OF THE MATCH - LEON BAILEY
Bailey had an exceptional night in a match that Villa were dominant for large durations of play, and despite not directly contributing with a goal or assist, he is more than deserving of the man of the match.
The winger completed a massive nine dribbles throughout his 77 minutes on the pitch, more than any other player across both sides, while he also made three key passes, a truly dangerous performance from the Jamaican.
Rogers, Watkins and Pedro could all also have been given the man of the match thanks to their performances and goal contributions, but Bailey's performance made him the clear choice.
ASTON VILLA VS. BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION MATCH STATS
Possession: Aston Villa 60%-40% Brighton & Hove Albion
Shots: Aston Villa 20-13 Brighton & Hove Albion
Shots on target: Aston Villa 4-4 Brighton & Hove Albion
Corners: Aston Villa 12-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
Fouls: Aston Villa 9-14 Brighton & Hove Albion
BEST STATS
G/A in the Prem:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) December 30, 2024
96 — Ollie Watkins
95 — Alexis Sánchez pic.twitter.com/bZUcQ6XbQC
Most PL games with goal and assist for Aston Villa:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) December 30, 2024
10 — Ollie Watkins
9 — Dwight Yorke pic.twitter.com/Z4LmHiFrhR
WHAT NEXT?
Aston Villa will look to leave their inconsistent end to 2024 behind them when they kickstart the new year by hosting Leicester City at Villa Park in the Premier League on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Brighton's winless streak is extended to seven games, a run they will hope to break with their first fixture of 2025, which sees them host Arsenal on Saturday evening.
Ellis Stevens
