Bank Holiday Sunday funday at the Amex: Brighton 1-0 Villa photos
So that is what it winning feels like. After six games without a victory, we finally have photos from Brighton picking up three points thanks to a 1-0 Bank Holiday Sunday Funday success over Aston Villa.
There were plenty of empty seats dotted around the Amex. An estimated 5,000 season ticket holders found something better to do, not helped by the game being pushed back by 24 hours with only a fortnight notice.
Those Brighton fans who did make it saw a much-improved display from the Albion. Roberto De Zerbi opted for experience over youth, recalling Adam Webster, Joel Veltman and Danny Welbeck to the stating XI.
The result was a first Premier League win since beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 eight weeks earlier. Joao Pedro meanwhile became the first Brighton player to score a domestic goal since Danny Welbeck five weeks previously.
Villa looked tired after their 4-2 defeat to Olympiacos in the semi finals of the Europa Conference on Thursday night. The visitors managed just two shots and only one on target; a far cry from when they stuck six past Brighton at Villa Park in September.
The Albion in contrast racked up 15 efforts with eight on target. The margin of victory would have been greater had Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen not been in such good form.
Olsen made two excellent saves, one per half from Pascal Gross and Joao Pedro. He even managed to save a Pedro penalty; the first time from 11 spot kicks Pedro has been denied this season.
Not that it mattered. Pedro reacted quickest to head the rebound into the bottom corner for the only goal of the game with three minutes of normal time to play.
It was the Brazilian forward’s 20th goal of an impressive debut campaign for the Albion. One which could yet end with Brighton securing a top 10 finish, with this result getting the Seagulls back on track and providing a renewed sense of optimism.
If you have any photos you would like included in our Brighton 1-0 Aston Villa gallery, please e-mail them to wearebrighton@hotmail.co.uk or tweet them to us @wearebrighton
