Graham Potter’s Seagulls made it three defeats in a row yesterday while also conceding seven without reply and slipping to tenth in the league table.
It’s a poor run of results an has drawn Brighton within three points of slipping into the bottom half of the Premier League after a season that started so brightly.
After the defeat to Villa, Potter said: “We are frustrated with the scoreline but performance-wise I thought we were OK. We started well and their first goal came out of nothing. The effort and character of the players was very good.
“It feels like we have been punished for our mistake, especially for the second goal. The players tried to fight to get back in but it wasn’t to be.
“We were pushing and had some opportunities to attack. The boys kept going. Aston Villa are a decent side. They defended in numbers and defended well.
There are also fresh injury concerns with the Brighton boss adding: “[Adam] Lallana felt his hamstring in the week.
“We will see how he goes for Newcastle. It was only a small one but enough to miss this game.
“Adam Webster has had a little setback with his [groin] injury. So again we will see how he goes this week but looking unlikely for Newcastle.”
Meanwhile, there are still plenty of transfer stories circulating in the news this morning and here are some of the biggest:
1. West Ham targeted Diaz in January
West Ham boss David Moyes has said they were on the cusp of signing Luis Diaz in the January transfer window before being pipped to the post by Liverpool (Football London)
2. Manchester United monitoring Gakpo
Ralf Rangnick has told United recruitment team to keeps tabs on PSV striker Gakpo (Mirror)
3. Isak ‘favouring’ Barcelona over Arsenal
Arsenal remain in contact with Real Sociedad over a move for Alexander Isak but the striker is favouring a move to Barcelona this summer (Metro)
4. Barcelona lead Bayern in Christensen race
Barcelona lead Bayern Munich in the race to sign Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen (Mundo Deportivo)