The Media Review: Aston Villa

Not since March 14, when Danny Welbeck's strike saw off AS Roma at the Amex, have the national media had an Albion goal AND a win to report.

It took 87 minutes for the former to arrive in the 1-0 victory over Aston Villa, but almost nobody in the press box could claim that the latter was not deserved. And the praise for Albion’s Ivorian winger Simon Agingra rang out from every page. 

The Daily Telegraph noted that “Brighton gave one of their most convincing performances for many weeks. It felt long overdue when top scorer Joao Pedro headed the winner from close range in the 87th minute after Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen had saved his penalty kick. Unusually, the Seagulls did not dominate possession, but they managed 15 efforts at goal to Villa’s two, and eight were on target to Villa’s one.

“They wanted to bounce back from a bad run but were also motivated by revenge for a 6-1 defeat at Villa Park in September. Brighton certainly made Villa suffer here, man-of-the-match Simon Adingra behind a flurry of early and late attacks that foundered on an excellent performance in the Villa goal from Olsen.

“Pascal Gross had a goal disallowed when VAR ruled that he had been ahead of the ball when Igor Julio crossed, although some images made it look otherwise. Villa too saw a goal chalked off for offside, John McGinn finding the net after a Brighton clearance was blocked. 

“That would have been especially cruel to Brighton, but they got their just rewards when Ezri Konsa barged Adingra over as he took a pass from Pedro six minutes from time, and the Brazil striker stepped up to take the penalty. His previously perfect record of ten successes from the spot for Brighton was foiled by Olsen’s save, but the ball looped up for the Brazil striker to head home anyway, his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.”

An Albion home game would be missing something without the zippy prose of The Sun’s Isabelle Barker, who wrote that “this game was a battle between Brighton hero Simon Adingra and Villa’s stand-in goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who had big boots to fill. The visitors had been left with a gaping Emi Martinez shaped hole after the Argentine goalkeeper was ruled out due a hamstring injury. 

“Adingra was at the beating heart of anything promising for Brighton, including winning the 87th minute penalty after being clipped by Ezri Konsa. In homage to Martinez, Olsen actually SAVED the penalty but it popped out perfectly for Pedro to head home the rebound.

“Villa had conceded six goals in two games without Martinez but Olsen stepped up to the plate with a string of huge saves at the Amex to keep a respectable scoreline. But Brighton deserved every bit of this win, leaving Roberto De Zerbi as the best looking boss in town.” 

In The Daily Mail, Tom Prentki wrote that “Roberto De Zerbi's side had the better of the early exchanges and almost took the lead when Welbeck - starting his 200th Premier League game - connected with Billy Gilmour's corner with his shoulder and the ball looped narrowly over.

“It was a game of few chances but Brighton had a flurry of them just before the break. First, Welbeck played in Adingra who collided with Olsen as the Villa keeper raced from his line to gather the ball. Then Ivorian winger Adingra then latched onto a cross from Joao Pedro but failed to make a firm connection at the far post. 

“Finally the ebullient Adingra picked out Pascal Gross who looked to have stepped round Olsen before the Swedish keeper recovered superbly to save his shot.

“Villa had more purpose after the break but were again indebted to Olsen as he denied Joao Pedro at point-blank range after Adingra had again come infield from his left-wing berth to wreak havoc.

“With the game into the final ten minutes, Welbeck then went close with a looping header from Enciso's cross before Jones pointed to the spot after Ezri Konsa clipped Adingra's heels after a one-two with Joao Pedro.

“Joao Pedro stepped up and saw his effort brilliant saved by Olsen to his right but he reacted quickly to head in the rebound.

The i paper reported that “Simon Adingra, comfortably the game's best player, provided plenty of [entertainment] against Emery's side and was a constant thorn in the side of Ezri Konsa, who eventually brought him down for the penalty from which Joao Pedro scored at the second attempt. 

“A top-half finish remains a distinct possibility for Brighton who, like Villa, have ben hampered in their Premier League ambitions by a lengthy injury list and midweek European football.”

John Brewin of The Guardian was slightly more critical of Albion’s efforts than some reporters, writing that “they remain capable of stringing an intricate passing move from the goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to the opposing 18-yard box but after that can resemble the goal-shy Brighton of Graham Potter rather than De Zerbi’s incisive speed kings.

“Chances did come and go. Olsen faced seven shots on target, and an additional seven whizzed by his posts. That Villa amassed just one shot on target told their story.

“Villa’s renewed adventure left space, Adingra injecting pace if not always precision. Julio Enciso replaced Facundo Buonanotte, one South American enigma for the other, and the Paraguayan smashed wide, producing a primal roar from his manager. When Gross was found offside from Igor Julio’s pass, De Zerbi retreated to his seat to dolefully await the verdict.

“After João Pedro missed a Brighton penalty for the first time, only to quickly redeem himself, Brighton’s manager spent the nine minutes of additional time pacing.”

Believe me, John, he wasn’t the only one nervously waiting for that final whistle!