Aston Villa - Home, Falmer Years
Season6 (H) 18/11/16 - 1-1 ~ Murray
This first fixture against the ex-Prem midlands outfit was moved to a Friday night tv slot, following the customary November international break. Albion had established at second place in the Championship after an unbeaten run of 10 matches, including 8 victories. Meanwhile Villa were languishing in 14th, undefeated at home but merely one win away in 8 games. Chris Hughton had Seagulls squad in good form, especially at the Amex - six wins from 8 games. Also BHA had kept six clean sheets there, scoring 17 against 4. And goals conceded were 2 in each of the single draw & loss. Hughton knew his preferred starting eleven by now and had benefit of a strong bench and a fit squad too. In fact there was quality cover in most positions across & down the pitch, apart from a couple due to injury. In build up to this fixture assistant Colin Calderwood quit for a job at Villa.
Visitors took the lead after hosts failed to capitalise on early chances. From a f-k the ball went over and skimmed off a head to beat Stockdale's dive (20min). Albion huffed & puffed but couldn't seem to put passes together. Then just prior to h-t a final fluid move saw Murray smack a great 25 yarder into the bottom corner (45m). After the interval Villa pressed hard while Seagulls were forced into rearguard action. Hughton put Murphy into the fray with twenty mins left and later Norwood arrived but little changed. Stockdale made a couple of superb saves to keep parity as travellers went to win it at the death. The match was competitve and open but never dirty. Brighton fans were entertained in a full house but could see a tad more was needed to go beat a good football playing outfit. It was a fair result at end of the day.
Stats; h-t 1-1, goals 20-45, poss 59%-41%, on target 2-2, off target 4-5, corners 2-12, o/s 4-2, fouls 13-15, yellows 1-2, subs 2-2, att 30,107
Stockdale, Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Knockaert (Norwood), Sidwell, Stephens, Skalak, Baldock (Murphy), Murray
Champ's P 17 . W 10 D 5 L 2 . F 26 A 10 . Pt 35 Po 2

Aston Villa - Away, Falmer Years
Season6 (A) 7/5/17 - 1-1 ~ Murray
It was the last game of the season and for many Brighton fans a new experience. Previously BHA had been in League One when visiting here for an FA Cup R4 tie during January 2010 (see Withdean era). Looking into the future, Albion would be playing in the Prem next season, while recent ex-elite outfits like Villa, Norwich, QPR, Cardiff, Blackburn & Wigan etc would not. The rise of Seagulls had been nurtured by Chris Hughton who'd gotten them to take flight & really hit the heights in the last couple of years. Of course chairman Tony Bloom should also be congratulated in unison, for his extraordinary input at both the Amex & Lancing, to provide truly world class facilities for the club. Brighton fans 20 year journey from homelessness to become an active part of Premiership crowds requires a well documented mention again - see our archive, for Falmer diary & file, Characters & Stats. Hughton had said, 'now we want to try to finish it off at Villa. I think we'll have to win to be champions. But we want to be top and the good news is we have another chance.'
Albion finished runners-up in the Championship as it went to the wire. After a goalless first half things began to change when Hughton put March on around the hour mark. Then Baldock was brought down in the area, Ref pointed to the spot and sent off the defender. Murray stepped up to coolly slot Seagulls into the lead (64min). Bruno had to go off with ten minutes left as BHA came under increasing pressure in final stages. Stockdale made a couple of important saves but was unable to stop a punt from down range sneaking thru right at the death (89min). Hemed got on for stoppage time but it was all over bar the handclapping as Albion trooped off in second place overall. Hughton said, 'today is a negative day but there are far more pluses. What these lads have achieved this season is magnificent. We have achieved our goal. We are playing in a division where there are some very big teams, who have spent big money, and we have managed to finish in the top two.' As ever it was a rollercoaster ride for Brighton fans, although if this scenario had been forecast at very beginning of the season, most would have settled for this outcome there & then.
Stats; h-t 0-0, goals 89-64, poss 53%-47%, on target 10-3, off target 4-12, corners 7-3, o/s 0-2, fouls 9-14, yellows 0-1, red 1-0, subs 3-3, att 32,856
Stockdale, Bruno (Rosenior), Tomori, Dunk, Pocognoli, Knockaert, Stephens, Sidwell, Murphy (March), Baldock (Hemed), Murray
Champ's P 46 . W 28 D 9 L 9 . F 74 A 40 . Pt 93 Po 2