The result the other night wasn't what we expected or hoped for an it's easy to write this after the match, but it was always going to be tough. I mean, it's the semi-final of a European competition. We shouldn't be that surprised.
That said, the game isn't over. Nobody expected them to come to us and win by two, so what's to say we can't do the same against them next week? But, it's going to be tough. And I wrote that about last Thursday too.
But it isn't impossible.
But, it isn't about that in this post. This post is about Brighton tomorrow and you don't need me to remind you that if we win tomorrow and Spurs lose, top four is confirmed for us, with two games to go.
And if Spurs win, top three is on for us. But that would also mean we would have had to have beaten Brighton earlier in the day. So it's not all bad kids.
Nobody expected us to be where we are right now and nothing is final. I'm waking up this morning with a lot of optimism and looking forward to the football today and tomorrow and next Thursday.
So that written, I'm going to walk in to town for brunch and might even have a pint and watch the Arsenal match before strolling home for a late BBQ dinner. It's going to be a good weekend.
And if you didn't know, it's the last game of the Championship season. Go look at the table.
Match facts from the BBC
Head-to-head
- Brighton have lost the past five Premier League meetings by an aggregate score of 14-3.
- Aston Villa could win six consecutive league games against a single opponent for the first time since doing so against local rivals Birmingham City between 2005-10.
- Albion's most recent top-flight home victory against Villa was 1-0 in December 1980.
Brighton & Hove Albion
- Brighton's only victory in their last nine Premier League games was 1-0 against Nottingham Forest in March (D3, L5).
- The Seagulls could concede three or more goals in three consecutive league fixtures for the first time since 2011 when they were in the Championship.
- Roberto De Zerbi's side have failed to score in eight league matches in 2024, more than any other team.
- The only goal they have scored in their last five league outings was an own goal by Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric in a 1-1 draw.
- Joao Pedro is without a goal in his last five appearances in all competitions.
- Danny Welbeck's next start will be his 200th in the Premier League.
Aston Villa
- Aston Villa are unbeaten in their past four Premier League games (W2, D2). Unai Emery's side have led by two goals in each of those matches.
- They need just three more points to reach 70 this season, which would be their highest tally in the top flight since 1989-90.
- The Villans have scored 73 league goals, their most in a top-flight season and one more than in their title-winning campaign in 1980-81.
- Morgan Rogers has scored three goals and provided an assist in his last five league matches.
- Ollie Watkins has six goals in four Premier League appearances against Brighton, more than he has scored against any other opposition in the division.
- Watkins has six goals and two assists across his last five away league outings.
- The England striker is one short of becoming the first Villa player to score 20 top-flight goals in a season since Peter Withe in 1980-81.