John Townley
@johntownley.bsky.social
Aston Villa correspondent for Birmingham Live | @claretbluepod.bsky.social
#AVFC
#AVFC
Ollie Watkins on Unai Emery: "His voice was basically gone. He's so passionate and that's why we're doing so well. I can't speak highly enough of him."
#AVFC
#AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Ollie Watkins on Unai Emery: "His voice was basically gone. He's so passionate and that's why we're doing so well. I can't speak highly enough of him."
#AVFC
#AVFC
Ollie Watkins: "Just a bit of relief, really. I had a difficult run and it's nice to put that behind me. We started the game slowly but to react like that is nice."
#AVFC
#AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Ollie Watkins: "Just a bit of relief, really. I had a difficult run and it's nice to put that behind me. We started the game slowly but to react like that is nice."
#AVFC
#AVFC
Ollie Watkins: "It's the best feeling to score a goal and that's my job. It's been a while without that feeling. It's been a tricky period in my career. I've not had this since the manager came in but I kept working hard and you get your rewards."
#AVFC
#AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Ollie Watkins: "It's the best feeling to score a goal and that's my job. It's been a while without that feeling. It's been a tricky period in my career. I've not had this since the manager came in but I kept working hard and you get your rewards."
#AVFC
#AVFC
Emi Martinez was feeling pain in his back during the warm-up before tonight's match at Brighton.
#AVFC
#AVFC
Emi Martinez injury update ahead of Arsenal clash as Unai Emery confirms problem
Unai Emery has explained why Emi Martinez pulled out of Aston Villa's starting line-up to face Brighton
www.birminghammail.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Emi Martinez was feeling pain in his back during the warm-up before tonight's match at Brighton.
#AVFC
#AVFC
This was just the third time that Aston Villa came from 2-0 down away from home to win in the Premier League, after a 4-2 win vs Tottenham in April 2000 and a 3-2 win vs Southampton in April 2005.
#AVFC
#AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 10:27 PM
This was just the third time that Aston Villa came from 2-0 down away from home to win in the Premier League, after a 4-2 win vs Tottenham in April 2000 and a 3-2 win vs Southampton in April 2005.
#AVFC
#AVFC
Unai Emery on Marco Bizot: "He accepts his role. He signed here to be the sub of Emi Martinez. He is ready when he is available and awaits his moment. Here [Brighton] it is very difficult to defend corners. How he saved the last action was fantastic. He is so mature."
#AVFC
#AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Unai Emery on Marco Bizot: "He accepts his role. He signed here to be the sub of Emi Martinez. He is ready when he is available and awaits his moment. Here [Brighton] it is very difficult to defend corners. How he saved the last action was fantastic. He is so mature."
#AVFC
#AVFC
Unai Emery on Emi Martinez: "He was feeling pain in his back. He couldn't even do a warm-up normally. We have Marco and Marco is a fantastic guy and professional."
#AVFC
#AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Unai Emery on Emi Martinez: "He was feeling pain in his back. He couldn't even do a warm-up normally. We have Marco and Marco is a fantastic guy and professional."
#AVFC
#AVFC
Unai Emery on Ollie Watkins: "He scored in different ways. In the box and as well one long ball behind the defence. It was a great finish. With Ollie, he gives me confidence when he's working. Not scoring, his confidence gets low, but the goals were coming."
#AVFC
#AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Unai Emery on Ollie Watkins: "He scored in different ways. In the box and as well one long ball behind the defence. It was a great finish. With Ollie, he gives me confidence when he's working. Not scoring, his confidence gets low, but the goals were coming."
#AVFC
#AVFC
Unai Emery: "The players reacted and competed fantastic. We needed some good luck at moments at 2-0 down. We then felt better on the field. In the dressing room we spoke about focusing on the game plan. After we reacted, the players followed it and they competed."
#AVFC
#AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Unai Emery: "The players reacted and competed fantastic. We needed some good luck at moments at 2-0 down. We then felt better on the field. In the dressing room we spoke about focusing on the game plan. After we reacted, the players followed it and they competed."
#AVFC
#AVFC
Unai Emery: "Ollie Watkins worked like he has in every match, but today he scored goals. Today we reacted like the season. We started poor in August. Today we didn’t start good. The first goal shouldn’t have been a corner. We are adding experiences and today one more."
#AVFC
#AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Unai Emery: "Ollie Watkins worked like he has in every match, but today he scored goals. Today we reacted like the season. We started poor in August. Today we didn’t start good. The first goal shouldn’t have been a corner. We are adding experiences and today one more."
#AVFC
#AVFC
#AVFC make it six wins from six after coming from two goals down to beat Brighton 4-3 on the south coast.
Ollie Watkins bagged a brace, before Amadou Onana turned the game on its head, and Donyell Malen scored with his first touch… and breathe!💪
Ollie Watkins bagged a brace, before Amadou Onana turned the game on its head, and Donyell Malen scored with his first touch… and breathe!💪
Aston Villa player ratings after dramatic 4-3 win at Brighton
John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings as Unai Emery's side defeat Brighton in seven-goal thriller in the Premier League
www.birminghammail.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 9:37 PM
#AVFC make it six wins from six after coming from two goals down to beat Brighton 4-3 on the south coast.
Ollie Watkins bagged a brace, before Amadou Onana turned the game on its head, and Donyell Malen scored with his first touch… and breathe!💪
Ollie Watkins bagged a brace, before Amadou Onana turned the game on its head, and Donyell Malen scored with his first touch… and breathe!💪
December 3, 2025 at 9:17 PM
GOAL: Donyyeellll Maaaalen! Villa have four at the Amex. He's just come on the pitch! Malen turns the ball in from close range after Evann Guessand's header was saved.
Brighton 2-4 #AVFC
Brighton 2-4 #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 9:13 PM
GOAL: Donyyeellll Maaaalen! Villa have four at the Amex. He's just come on the pitch! Malen turns the ball in from close range after Evann Guessand's header was saved.
Brighton 2-4 #AVFC
Brighton 2-4 #AVFC
GOAL: Amadou Oonnaaaana! He heads Villa into the lead at the back post. Matty Cash's corner. Villa lead on the hour mark after trailing by two goals.
Brighton 2-3 #AVFC
Brighton 2-3 #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
GOAL: Amadou Oonnaaaana! He heads Villa into the lead at the back post. Matty Cash's corner. Villa lead on the hour mark after trailing by two goals.
Brighton 2-3 #AVFC
Brighton 2-3 #AVFC
HT: Ollie Watkins is back among the goals. His double restored parity for Villa after Brighton went a couple of goals up. Brilliant comeback before the break - now a big second half awaits. Villa not had any luck with referee Andy Madley's decisions so far...
Brighton 2-2 #AVFC
Brighton 2-2 #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 8:25 PM
HT: Ollie Watkins is back among the goals. His double restored parity for Villa after Brighton went a couple of goals up. Brilliant comeback before the break - now a big second half awaits. Villa not had any luck with referee Andy Madley's decisions so far...
Brighton 2-2 #AVFC
Brighton 2-2 #AVFC
GOAL: Olllieeeee Watkinsssss! Villa are back on level terms. He fires the ball past Bart Verbruggen after being picked out by a wonderful pass from Morgan Rogers. Some goal.
Brighton 2-2 #AVFC
Brighton 2-2 #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 8:23 PM
GOAL: Olllieeeee Watkinsssss! Villa are back on level terms. He fires the ball past Bart Verbruggen after being picked out by a wonderful pass from Morgan Rogers. Some goal.
Brighton 2-2 #AVFC
Brighton 2-2 #AVFC
GOAL: Brighton double their lead as Jack Hinshelwood's cross was turned into his own net by Pau Torres. Bart Verbruggen saved Ollie Watkins' tame effort moments before.
Brighton 2-0 #AVFC
Brighton 2-0 #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 7:59 PM
GOAL: Brighton double their lead as Jack Hinshelwood's cross was turned into his own net by Pau Torres. Bart Verbruggen saved Ollie Watkins' tame effort moments before.
Brighton 2-0 #AVFC
Brighton 2-0 #AVFC
GOAL: Jan Paul van Hecke gives Brighton the lead. Marco Bizot didn't deal with the corner, before the ball was bundled in.
Brighton 1-0 #AVFC
Brighton 1-0 #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM
GOAL: Jan Paul van Hecke gives Brighton the lead. Marco Bizot didn't deal with the corner, before the ball was bundled in.
Brighton 1-0 #AVFC
Brighton 1-0 #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM
December 3, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Brighton starting XI vs #AVFC: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, De Cuyper, Gruda, Baleba, Gomez, Minteh, Tzimas, Kadioglu.
Subs: Steele, Hinshelwood, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Veltman, Coppola, Knight, Oriola.
Subs: Steele, Hinshelwood, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Veltman, Coppola, Knight, Oriola.
December 3, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Brighton starting XI vs #AVFC: Verbruggen, Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, De Cuyper, Gruda, Baleba, Gomez, Minteh, Tzimas, Kadioglu.
Subs: Steele, Hinshelwood, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Veltman, Coppola, Knight, Oriola.
Subs: Steele, Hinshelwood, Welbeck, Kostoulas, Boscagli, Veltman, Coppola, Knight, Oriola.
Ollie Watkins returns to the starting XI to face Brighton, as Unai Emery also brings in Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana and Evann Guessand.
Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, Lucas Digne and Donyell Malen drop to the #AVFC bench.
Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, Lucas Digne and Donyell Malen drop to the #AVFC bench.
Villa team news vs Brighton confirmed as Watkins and Tielemans decisions made
Unai Emery has picked his Aston Villa side to take on Brighton in the Premier League tonight
www.birminghammail.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Ollie Watkins returns to the starting XI to face Brighton, as Unai Emery also brings in Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana and Evann Guessand.
Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, Lucas Digne and Donyell Malen drop to the #AVFC bench.
Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, Lucas Digne and Donyell Malen drop to the #AVFC bench.
#AVFC starting XI vs Brighton: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana, McGinn, Rogers, Guessand, Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Tielemans, Buendia, Malen, Sancho.
Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Tielemans, Buendia, Malen, Sancho.
December 3, 2025 at 6:16 PM
#AVFC starting XI vs Brighton: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana, McGinn, Rogers, Guessand, Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Tielemans, Buendia, Malen, Sancho.
Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Tielemans, Buendia, Malen, Sancho.