Only 16,245 people have ever seen Brighton beat Villa at home

Playing Aston Villa at home is never the most enjoyable of experiences for Brighton supporters. Just 16,245 people have ever seen the Seagulls down Villa in Sussex, at the Goldstone Ground back in December 1980.

The late, great Michael Robinson scored the only goal of the game for Alan Mullery’s Seagulls. Since that afternoon, the only win Brighton have ever managed against Villa came in the 2020-21 campaign at Villa Park, behind closed doors in the lockdown season.

Pain, strife and disappointment seem to occur whenever Brighton take on Villa. Most notably the final game of the 2016-17 Championship season, when a victory would have seen the Albion crowned champions ahead of Newcastle United.

Everyone knows what happened next. In the final few minutes, David Stockdale let a Jack Grealish shot from 30 yards squirm through his legs for a Villa equaliser.

The silverware subsequently headed to St James’ Park, Brighton having somehow managed the feat of losing their final three matches of the season to blow a seven point lead and finish second.

Given everything that has happened since that day – Europe, two FA Cup semi finals and the Albion now established in the Premier League – it feels like Stockdale’s howler took place a lot longer than seven years ago.

More fresh in the memory is September’s visit to the Second City. Brighton had won six of their first seven Premier League games of the campaign, Roberto De Zerbi was the best thing since sliced bread and the talk was of a push for the Champions League places.

Villa then stuck six past a shell shocked Albion, who have never really looked the same since. It is now Unai Emery’s side who find themselves on course for the top four and European semi finalists.

De Zerbi meanwhile talks about his players having a lack of motivation as Brighton fans just want a campaign which has been petering out six weeks to now be over.

A quick look at the ticket exchange for Brighton v Aston Villa tells you all you need to know. Over 2,000 season ticket holders have put their seats up for resale and there have hardly been any takers.

It is not just De Zerbi and the players lacking motivation. A run of six games without a win, only one Brighton player scoring a Premier League goal in the past nine weeks and it being a Bank Holiday weekend seems to have led many Albion supporters to conclude they have better things to do with their Sunday afternoon than go to the Amex.

Apathy has well and truly kicked in. There are some big playoff games across Sussex too. Reading comments online, a number of Brighton fans are instead choosing to get their live football fix at Eastbourne Town v Newhaven in the Southern Combination League or head to Worthing on Monday for the National League South playoff final.

Goals and entertainment seem guaranteed in both those matches, which is more than you can say of watching Brighton currently. The allure of the Premier League is not as strong as the powers that be would like you to think.

So, what chance is there for those who actually turn up to the Amex of seeing a Brighton win? History suggests slim. Recent form suggests zero.

Under normal circumstances, that would mean framing this as a potentially Typical Brighton match. You know the sort. The game nobody expects the Albion to win, only for them to go and be defy the odds by being brilliant.

Like following up a 5-1 home defeat to Everton by beating Manchester United 1-0. Or losing 3-1 at Nottingham Forest, only to then go and rack up a club record biggest ever top flight win hammering Wolves 6-0.

The last time the Albion went six games without victory in the Premier League – scoring only one goal in that sequence – was under Glow Up Graham Potter between February and April 2022.

That run was broken with a stunning 2-1 success away at Champions League chasing Arsenal. Another one of those Typical Brighton moments.

It is quite telling of the way the 2023-24 campaign is dying a death that even a Typical Brighton moment seems beyond the Albion at the moment.

The players look tired and jaded. Supporters come across as tired and jaded. And De Zerbi veers from criticism of the club and obvious frustration to saying he loves the Albion, the city and wants to stay forever.

Nobody though follows Brighton for the glory. And it is games like this one against Aston Villa, when you can see little hope of victory, that the players need their fans even more.

The sun is expected to be out. Get your shorts out. Your sunglasses out. Sink some cool ciders in the pub. And then get ready for 90 minutes of disappointment.

This is what supporting Brighton is really all about.