Aston Villa came from two goals down to beat Brighton 4-3 in a thrilling game at the Amex Stadium to make it six successive wins in all competitions and move up to third in the Premier League.
Jan Paul van Hecke and a Pau Torres own goal gave the hosts a commanding early lead on the south coast but an Ollie Watkins double, followed by goals from Amadou Onana and Donyell Malen turned the game on its head.
Van Hecke pulled one back to make it an exciting last 10 minutes but on a night when Brighton captain Lewis Dunk was making his 500th club appearance, it was not a happy occasion for the hosts, who drop to seventh.
Brighton begin brightly
Villa boss Unai Emery was dealt a blow shortly before kick-off, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez injuring himself in the warm up. The Argentine’s absence opened the door for Marco Bizot, but, unfortunately for Villa fans, the Dutchman then opened the door for Brighton to take the lead with an error inside 10 minutes.
From a corner, Bizot was caught flapping, the ball whizzing between his hands before reaching the back post where it was eventually bundled in by Van Hecke after several ricochets in the six-yard area.
Maxim De Cuyper then saw his free-kick tipped over by Bizot before Brighton added a second when Jack Hinshelwood, on as a first-half substitute for the injured Stefanos Tzimas, played a pass across the box that deflected off the recovering Torres.
Villa hit back
Watkins halved the deficit with just under 10 minutes of the half remaining. From Ian Maatsen’s low cross, the England international was brave to throw himself amid several bodies to poke home.
Emery was visibly agitated on the touchline throughout. However, he went into half-time the happier of the two managers when, in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Watkins doubled his tally, finishing well after latching onto a long ball over the top.
The comeback was complete on the hour mark, Onana leaping highest to nod in a Matty cash corner at the far post.
Malen added a fourth with 12 minutes to go as Villa looked to have secured the three points. However, Van Hecke pulled one back five minutes later to set up a grand stand finish on the south coast.
Bizot atoned for his earlier error when he produced an instinctive save to deny Danny Welbeck late on. It proved to be last action as Villa extended their impressive run.
