Brighton and Hove Albion vs Aston Villa. Sky Bet Championship.
Amex StadiumAttendance30,107.
Friday 18 November 2016 22:19, UK
Steve Bruce continued his unbeaten run with Aston Villa, but they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Amex in the Sky Bet Championship.
Nathan Baker headed Villa in front after 20 minutes on Friday night before the Seagulls pulled level through a fine Glenn Murray effort on the stroke of half-time.
Brighton may have dominated possession on the night, but it was Villa who had the of the better chances. Unfortunately for the away fans, though, they could not find another breakthrough and Bruce added a third draw to his three wins from six games in charge.
Brighton, meanwhile, closed the gap on league leaders Newcastle, but the Magpies could extend the gap to five points when they play away at Leeds on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Brighton started the better of the two sides, but it was Villa who opened the scoring thanks to Baker's header with the first real chance of the game after 20 minutes.
Villa had not really got forward until they won a free-kick 35 yards out, and Albert Adomah's floated ball in found the head of Baker, who rose highest in the area to glance the ball past David Stockdale.
The home side continued to push forward but struggled to get their front two of Murray and Sam Baldock into the game until the 44th minute when the pair combined to devastating effect.
First, Murray received the ball from Steve Sidwell then played a lovely one-two with Baldock before firing into the bottom corner with a fierce low strike from the edge of the area for his 150th league goal.
The second half started at breakneck pace as both sides pushed for the next goal, and it was Murray who went closest just after the hour, heading narrowly over the bar for Brighton after Baldock had lifted the ball into his path.
Villa boss Bruce threw on Jack Grealish midway through the second half and the young midfielder made an immediate impact as his quality on the ball helped the away side to dominate.
In a period of pressure, Grealish saw two shots from the edge of the area deflected narrowly wide, while Jonathan Kodjia rattled the crossbar with one header before forcing a fine fingertip save from David Stockdale with another.
Brighton substitute Jamie Murphy then forced a fine save from Pierluigi Gollini late on, but it was Villa who always looked the more likely to score again.
Chris Hughton's side held on, though, and Villa missed their chance to climb into the top half of the table, sitting in 13th ahead of the rest of the weekend's action.
Brighton boss Chris Hughton:
"I thought we were very unfortunate to go 1-0 down when we did. We were up against a side that were very compact and pressed the ball, but didn't really have a goal threat in that first half period [before they scored]. It was very against the run of play.
"But as the game grew on they showed their quality and it probably got to the stage at 1-1 where I was reasonably happy with a draw. They're a very good side and have players who have come in for big fees to play in the Premier League, that's what we were up against.
"They showed what a big threat they are and why they'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season."
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce:
"It's the best we've played in the second half because to come here is never going to be easy, [Brighton] are a very good side who have been playing very, very well.
"We're a bit disappointed we didn't see it out until half-time, but the way we responded in the second half, I can only congratulate them on a really good performance. With a little bit more luck maybe we could have gone away with all three.
"We've worked meticulously on the shape and organisation, and with the flair players we've got we're always likely to score a goal, and touch wood at the moment it's going okay."
