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...
5. Ferdi Kadioglu -5
A quiet game for the Turkey international. Not sure if he was playing through an injury but replaced by Welbeck on 66 minutes | AFP via Getty Images
6. Carlos Baleba - 5
Back in the starting XI and he stayed on the pitch for more than 45 minutes, which is a major achievement. Better but still no where near his form of last term | AFP via Getty Images
7. Diego Gomez - 5
Seemed to switch off at the end of the first half and he and Baleba were completely over run and out of position. Not at his best tonight | Getty Images
8. Yankuba Minteh - 4
A typical Minteh display. Some good and some really bad. Very frustrating of late. | Getty Images