A match that Villa had to win, whilst Brighton had already achieved their goal
28 MAY 2023 -
ASTON VILLA 2 ( Douglas Luiz 1 Ollie Watkins 1)
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 ( Deniz Undav 1 )
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at VILLA PARK, ASTON, BIRMINGHAM
Assured of a best-ever sixth place top flight finish, the Albion travelled to Aston Villa for their final Premier League game of the season, the match being broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex .Sport.
Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made six changes to his starting line-up from the team which had drawn 1-1 at home to Manchester City on the 24 May,with Joel Veltman, Adam Webster, Yasin Ayari, Alexis Mac Allister, Deniz Undav and Evan Ferguson replacing Jan Paul Van Hecke, Pervis Estupinan, Billy Gilmour, Moises Caicedo, Kaoru Mitoma and Danny Welbeck. Making his first Premier League start for the Albion was Yasin Ayari.
Last time out Villa had drawn 1-1 with Liverpool in the Premier at Anfield on the 20 May and for Albion's visit Head Coach Unai Emery named an unchanged starting line-up from the Liverpool game. Villa needed to win against the Seagulls to finish in 7th spot in the Premier and attain Europa League Conference football next season.
Earlier this season Villa won 2-1 at the Amex on the 13 November 2022, with both their goals being scored by Danny Ings (20m) penalty & (54m). Albion's goal was scored by Alexis Mac Allister (1m).
Last season Villa did the double over the Albion, winning 2-0 at Villa Park on the 20 November 2021, with their goals coming from Ollie Watkins (84m) and Tyrone Mings (89m). In the reverse fixture at the Amex on the 26 February 2022, Villa won 2-0 again, with the goals being scored by Matty Cash (17m) and Ollie Watkins (68m).
Villa were fast out of the blocks and came close to taking an early lead when Jacob Ramsey crossed from the left to Leon Bailey whose well-struck shot cannoned back off the Albion crossbar, with keeper Jason Steele well beaten. However on 8 minutes Villa did take the lead as Ramsey's pass found the unmarked Douglas Luiz, who calmly placed his shot beyond Steele for Villa's opener. 1-0.
Deniz Undav thought he had equalised for the Seagulls on 20 minutes when he converted Julio Enciso's cross but VAR intervened stating that Enciso had moved offside in the build-up.
Albion found themselves two down on 26 minutes when Alexis Mac Allister lost possession of the ball to John McGinn, the Villa Captain found Ramsey on the left who in turn moved the ball on to Ollie Watkins who tapped the ball home for Villa's second. 2-0.
Evan Ferguson and then Undav failed to avail themselves of chances which came their way but in the 38th minute Albion pulled a goal back when Undav got on the end of a Mac Allister free-kick to guide the ball past Emiliano Martinez in the Villa goal. It was Undav's fifth goal in eight Premier games. 1-2.
Undav went close to scoring again prior to the break but Martinez pulled off a great save to deny the Albion striker.
Half-time 1-2.
First chance in the second-half fell to Mac Allister whose shot from 25 yards out hit the outside of the post with Martinez helpless. Ramsey had a good chance for Villa's third but blazed the ball over the bar. As the teams tired, the game became stop-start but Lucas Digne curled a Villa free-kick just wide of the target. In the closing minutes
Jack Hinshelwood was given his Albion Premier League debut when substituting for Deniz Undav. Both teams will be playing European football next season and both sets of fans showed their appreciation at the end.
Final-score 1-2.
Stats:
Albion had 8 shots at goal, with 4 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 16.
Aston Villa had 12 shots at goal, with 5 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 15.
TO SUM UP -
Wow - what a season was that. Highest ever position in the top-flight - 6th. Highest number of points in the top-flight - 62 from 38 games. European football for the first time in their history - next season playing in the Europa League.
Julio Enciso won BBC Match of the Day Goal of the Season - for his wonder-strike against Manchester City on the 24 May 2023.
Congratulations to Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club on Season 2022-2023.
Albion line-up (4-4-2):- Jason Steele; Joel Veltman (Pervis Estupinan 46), Adam Webster (Jan Paul Van Hecke 65), Levi Colwill, Pascal Gross (Capt); Facundo Buonanotte, Yasin Ayari (Moises Caicedo 46), Alexis Mac Allister, Julio Enciso (Kaoru Mitoma 65); Deniz Undav (Jack Hinshelwood 89), Evan Ferguson.
Subs not used: Tom McGill (G/K), Lewis Dunk, Billy Gilmour, Danny Welbeck.
Aston Villa line-up (4-2-3-1):- Emiliano Martinez; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne; Boubacar Kamara, Douglas Luiz; Leon Bailey (Emiliano Buendia 69), John McGinn (Capt), Jacob Ramsey; Ollie Watkins.
Subs not used: Robin Olsen (G/K), Ashley Young, Calum Chambers, Diego Carlos, Bertrand Traore, Leander Dendoncker, Sebastian Revan, Travis Patterson.
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire).
VAR Official: Graham Scott.
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 4 - Pascal Gross, Facundo Buonanotte, Moises Caicedo, Deniz Undav.
Aston Villa: 4 - Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey.
Possession: Albion - 59%. Aston Villa - 41%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Evan Ferguson.