It all started so well as Brighton took the lead on nine minutes as Jan Paul van Hecke bundled the ball home from close range after Villa keeper Marco Bizot flapped at a corner.
Substitute Jack Hinshelwood - on for the unfortunate Stefganos Tzimas - then extended the advantage as his deflected cross deceived Bizot at the near post.
Albion were cruising and Villa looked dreadful. Unai Emery was raging on the touchline and eventually the message got through to his team.
Brighton on the other handed defended like a team who had just bumped into each other in the park for the first time. Ollie Watkins had already missed one decent chance but the England striker pulled one back on 37 minutes as he bundled home from close range. Brighton then lost their bearings completely.
Bart Verbruggen delivered a world class save to deny Watkins a second but another long ball on the stroke of halftime caught out Albion once again and this time Watkins drilled home low and hard. 2-2.
Villa overpowered Brighton for much of the second half and it was little surprise when Amadou Onana and Donyell Malen made it 4-2. Van Hecke clawed another back for Brighton and only a remarkable save from Bizot from Danny Welbeck denied Brighton a point. Breathless stuff and Brighton’s first home defeat since... Aston villa last season!
Here’s how the rated...
1. Bart Verbruggen - 6
Produced a world class save to deny Watkins but had no chance with either of the two goals in the first half. Beaten at the near post for the third and unlucky with the as he clawed out the initial effort but Malen blasted home | AFP via Getty Images
2. Mats Wieffer - 6
Won the ball back countless times high up the pitch and joined the attack when he could. One of Brighton's best players on the night | Getty Images
.jpeg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
3. Lewis Dunk - 5
A very bizarre end to the first half on his 500th appearance. The Albion defence completely failed to deal with long balls over the top for Watkins. He won't be happy with conceding four | Getty Images
4. Jan Paul van Hecke - 8
He's a problem at set-pieces and bundled home the first goal after the Villa keeper flapped at the corner. His second goal was a cracker from the edge of the box. Man of the match. | AFP via Getty Images