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...
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9. Brajan Gruda - 5
The German under-21 international played in the No 10 role and then further forward after Tzimas was forced off. Clever on the ball but lacked a cutting edge | Getty Images
10. Maxim De Cuyper - 6
Started on the left wing and then reverted to left back once Kadioglu went off. Outmuscled by Onana for Villa's third but played pretty well throughout. Very clever on the ball. | Getty Images
11. Stefanos Tzimas - 5
Very unfortunate as he twisted his knee after 22 minutes into his first PL start. Started ahead of Welbeck and looked good early on. | Getty Images
12. Jack Hinshelwood - 7
Came off the bench and he just has the knack of delivering. A surging run and a deflected effort for the second goal | Getty Images