[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa *** Official Match Thread *** - KO Delayed Until 3:30

[Dick Head]

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Aston Villa *** Official Match Thread *** - KO Delayed Until 3:30

Albion v Aston Villa

PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: The American Express Community Stadium
Date: Saturday 26th February 2022
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: John Brooks
Assistants: Neil Davies, Matthew Wilkes
Fourth Official: David Coote
VAR: Michael Oliver
Additional VAR: Scott Ledger
​

TEAM NEWS

Brighton pair Adam Webster and Enock Mwepu are expected to miss out again with respective groin and hamstring problems.

Head coach Graham Potter reported illness issues within the squad but Lewis Dunk returns after missing the defeat by Burnley due to suspension.

Central defender Ezri Konsa is available for Aston Villa, having served a two-match ban.

Bertrand Traore and Marvelous Nakamba are Villa's only absentees.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• 
  [*=left]Brighton's only victory in the past 13 competitive meetings was by 2-1 in the Premier League at Villa Park in November 2020 (D5, L7).
  [*=left]Albion's most recent home win against Aston Villa came in the top flight at the Goldstone Ground in December 1980.
  [*=left]This season's reverse Premier League fixture was won 2-0 by Aston Villa in Steven Gerrard's first match as their head coach. Villa can do the league double over Brighton for the first time since 1981-82.

Albion

• 
  [*=left]Brighton have won only one of their past nine home league games, beating Brentford on Boxing Day (D5, L3).
  [*=left]They have suffered back-to-back defeats, directly following a club record unbeaten run of seven Premier League matches.
  [*=left]Albion can equal their longest Premier League losing streak under Graham Potter of three games.
  [*=left]All seven of their league wins this season were against teams currently below them in the table.
  [*=left]The Seagulls' Premier League record without Adam Webster this season is: W1, D6, L3.
  [*=left]Danny Welbeck has scored in each of his last four Premier League starts versus Aston Villa.

Aston Villa

• 
  [*=left]Steven Gerrard's side have only won once in eight competitive fixtures since Christmas, taking five points from seven league games during that period.
  [*=left]Excluding the three promoted clubs, Aston Villa's tally of 13 Premier League defeats this season is a joint-high alongside Everton.
  [*=left]Villa have lost eight of their 12 top-flight away games in 2021-22, already one more defeat than in the whole of last season.
  [*=left]They have only drawn one of their 19 away league matches since a goalless stalemate at Amex Stadium a year ago.

Graham Potter's Aston Villa Press Conference



[tweet]1497572202660642818[/tweet]

https://twitter.com/OfficialBHAFC/status/1497572202660642818

 

[OzMike]

I will be in bed for this one and watch the replay of 1 - 1 in the morning.

 

[Icy Gull]

We have been much weaker since we sold Dan Burn due to CB injuries and a suspension. Meanwhile he has been MOTM in both his Newcastle games. I think we’ll miss him again today

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Graham Potter's Aston Villa Press Conference

​

The journalists seem to only care about Steven Gerard.
Even Johnny Cantor getting in on the act.​

 

[Icy Gull]

The journalists seem to only care about Steven Gerard.
Even Johnny Cantor getting in on the act.

There has been a media frenzy about Gerrard’s genius since he arrived at Villa. All based on winning a league with two teams

Remember this is “The Steven Gerrard” (copyright Micky Adams bowing down to Leeds when we played them in League One)

 

[GT49er]

Fifty years on (give or take four weeks) from that Willie Irvine goal. Proper result to commemorate that today please! 2-1 to The Albion would be perfect.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

Aston Villa? Great old club but lower in the league than BHA right now. They are a decent side but not invincible. Their recent record is not good.
We can win this ... we need to win this so let’s do it ! No predictions from me but It is do-able.
NB . No good bleating on about Dan Burn. The guy is gone, he is history now we play what we have.

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

Such a poor home record we have, hopefully that changes today.

 

[wunt be druv]

Well we can't be any worse than that shite show of a performance last week, I am sure the team will want to put on a decent performance to make amends, it is a tricky game this but one we can get a result from, a strong imposing start, a couple of early goals and a nice Amex sunny afternoon please!....or a nervy 1-1...oh man, why do I put myself through this..??

 

[Beach Hut]

So excited

 

[Justice]

When’s the last time we won at home in the league on a Saturday 3pm, Watford

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I hope Biss turns up today. He cut a very despondent figure last week as he trudged off down the tunnel as soon as the whistle went.

 

[crookie]

When’s the last time we won at home in the league on a Saturday 3pm, Watford

That was 5.30 ko. No home 3pm victories this season, that said, we've only had 2 of them so far !!

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

 

[bhafc99]

Such a poor home record we have, hopefully that changes today.

 

[maltaseagull]

I am worried about the story of illness in the squad. We could be missing more key players.

 

[South west gull]

I am worried about the story of illness in the squad. We could be missing more key players.

Gp in press conference didn't sound upbeat at all about illness in the squad.we need all our players to perform today Biss included

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

 

[Bold Seagull]

I hope Biss turns up today. He cut a very despondent figure last week as he trudged off down the tunnel as soon as the whistle went.

Yep, indeed and 10 others as well following last week's no show.

 

[Official Old Man]

Posted at 03:00 on the dot. Were win 2day.

 

[Mortdecai]

 

[portslade seagull]

We have been much weaker since we sold Dan Burn due to CB injuries and a suspension. Meanwhile he has been MOTM in both his Newcastle games. I think we’ll miss him again today

We finally got to see him have a run in his best position where he excelled and then promptly sold him