Kick-off: 1500, 21/11/2020
Stadium: Villa Park
TV: BT Sport
Aston Villa and Brighton have both looked much improved this season but only Villa have got the points to prove it.
Villa head into the weekend sitting sixth in the table, three points off top spot with a game in hand over all the teams ahead of them.
Brighton have been competitive in all their games though, drawing three of their last four, and three of the last four meetings between these teams were drawn so another share of the spoils here at 5/2 is our opening Aston Villa vs Brighton prediction.
A Look At Aston Villa’s Betting Odds
Aston Villa’s flying start to the season looked to have fizzled out when they suffered back-to-back home defeats against Leeds and Southampton, conceding seven goals in the process.
They bounced back in style though with a well-deserved 3-0 win at Arsenal as a Bukayo Saka own goal and Ollie Watkins’ double settled the game in their favour.
Villa boss Dean Smith said: “Personally I thought it was as good a performance as when we beat Liverpool 7-2.
“The work from the whole 11 players without the ball to restrict a good Arsenal team was extremely pleasing.
“It is up there with the Liverpool one, if not better. We were so composed and played with such intensity either with or without the ball.
“We make it hard for teams to break through us, we have conceded seven in the last two games and it is easier to look in the goals conceded column.
“I had no doubts that defensively we were still strong and I was pleased the players went out and showed that today.”
That was a third successive clean sheet on their travels but Villa have been easier to break down at home, with only Manchester United having conceded more goals on their own patch.
Let’s back both teams to score in the first half at 14/5 in the Aston Villa vs Brighton odds.
Last Villa line-up: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, Grealish, Trezeguet, Barkley, Watkins.
A Look At Brighton and Hove Albion’s Betting Odds
Brighton failed to score for the first time this season when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Burnley prior to the international break.
As has often been the case though, there was a lot to like and boss Graham Potter felt a breakthrough goal was the only thing missing from his team’s display.
“It was really positive, I am really happy with a lot of the performance,” he said.
“We restricted the opponent to not too much at all and had some opportunities ourselves. We pushed and pushed, tried everything, gave everything, good intent.
“The only thing missing was the goal but I can’t fault the players in terms of what they gave and the effort.
“I am disappointed with just one point but that’s football, we have to stick together, move forward and look forward to the next one.”
The Seagulls could welcome back Leandro Trossard, who has been their most creative player this season, and they have managed seven goals in four away games.
Top scorer Neal Maupay was recalled against Burnley after missing the defeat at Tottenham due to a disciplinary issue.
He has already opened the scoring against Newcastle and Manchester United this season so let’s take a chance on him scoring first again in a 2-2 draw at 33/1 for our final Aston Villa vs Brighton prediction.
Last Brighton line-up: Ryan, Lamptey, White, Webster, Burn, Veltman, Bissouma, Gross, Lallana, Maupay, Welbeck.
Additional stats
Last result:
Arsenal 0-3 ASTON VILLA – Bukayo Saka (og), Ollie Watkins (2)
BRIGHTON 0-0 Burnley
Head-to-head: Brighton 1-1 Aston Villa, Aston Villa 2-1 Brighton, Brighton 1-3 Aston Villa, Aston Villa 1-1 Brighton, Brighton 1-1 Aston Villa
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