Aston Villa - Home, Falmer Years 19/20 Prem, 16/17 C'ship, '19 LC.
Manager; Dean Smith (2018-19)
Record to Aug 19: P38 W19 D10 L9. Wins = 50%
VILLA PREM record from 11/12 to 18/19; 16, 15, 15, 17, 20, (13, 4, 5 @ Championship). Best = 15th, Worst = 20th, Stayed up - '12, '13, '14, '15, relegated '16. Ave = 17th.
C21; ave = 11th (17yrs). Top six - 99/00, 03/4, 07/8, 08/9, 09/10, Top ten - 00/1, 01/2, 04/5, 10/11, Stayed up (in bottom six) - 02/3, 05/6, '12-'15, relegated - 15/16.
Recent Managers; Dean Smith (2018), Steve Bruce (2016-18), Steve Clarke (2016), Roberton di Matteo (2016), Eric Black (2016), Remi Garde (2015-16), Tim Sherwood (2015), Paul Lambert (2012-15)

2020 - Brighton (A), Watford (H)
AV Fans pre-season Expectations; first of all to stay up & second to be a top ten club in future.
Odds @ start: top ten 9-2, top midlands 8/1, stay up 2-5, relegation 2/1, bottom 6/1, DS first for sack 16/1

Villa Away:
19/20 - P11 W2 D1 L8 F14 A23 GD-9 Pt7 Po18 = 0.63pt/gm or 33.3% of total points. Wins = 18.1%, Loss = 72.7%
16/17 to 18/19 - not Premier League
15/16 - P19 W1 D3 L15 F13 A41 GD-28 (Po20) = 0.31pt/gm or 35.2% of total points. Wins = 5.2%, Loss = 78.9% - Remi Garde.
14/15 - P19 W5 D2 L12 F13 A32 GD-19 (Po17) = 0.89pt/gm or 44.7% of total points. Wins = 26.3%, Loss = 63.1% - Tim Sherwood.
13/14 - P19 W4 D5 L10 F17 A32 GD-15 (Po15) = 0.89pt/gm or 44.7% of total points. Wins = 21%, Loss = 52.6% - Paul Lambert.

Season9 3rd Premier League (H) Sat 18/1/20 -
Albion had already hosted ex-Championship Villa at the Amex, for an EFL Cup R3 tie during late September (see below). We'd only previously played them here for that successful auto-promo campaign of our last year at level2 (see Season6 below). In fact we'd barely met at all this century, as BHA climbed from proverbial gutter, initially domiciled at Withdean, to the stars when wonderfully rehoused at Falmer. Villa meanwhile had been on a re-entry orbit, following many years previously at Prem level since its elite league formation in 1992. Things came down to a PL relegation battle now as both clubs wanted vital points to keep moving towards a survival target. The point was that this term nobody could say there were definitely three teams at bottom of the table who were already cut adrift without any hope. Seagulls had to up the ante from this moment because Brighton fans didn't wanna see a repeat of 2019 run-in trauma & drama here. Also, could coach Graham Potter come up with the goods to underline future credentials as a Prem boss respected for real & measured achievements? This was a very tough league with no guarantees... as Chris Hughton knew previously.

Stats: shape, ht, goals, poss %-%, on target, off target, corners, fouls, yellows, subs. MoM - . Gate - . Weather - .
1 Ryan, subs - 27 Button,
Squad - 3 Bong, 14 Balogun. Injured - 19 Izquierdo, 33 Burn.
Prem: P23 . W4 D4 L3 . F15 A12 . W2 D2 L7 F10 A18 . Pt24 Po14 = 1.09pt/gm. Wins = 27.2%, Loss = 45.4%

Season9 EFL Cup R3 (H) Wed 25/9/19 - L 1-3 ~ Roberts
Albion drew Villa, for this evening knockout competition, with a home tie - after both Prem clubs got past lower league opposition away at end of August. Each outfit now had an option to field a similar second eleven, or maybe go with a full strength side as a potential way of progressing at shorter odds. Graham Potter had already blooded U23 academy graduate Aaron Connolly & ex-EFL youngster Steven Alzate at Prem level, having earlier dispensed with services of ex-PL strikers Hemed, Knockaert, Andone & Locadia during August. None of those previously figured in the R2 cup-tie squad but plenty of U23s & fringe players had made up match-day ranks.
On the day Potter had multiple injury problems among his senior squad, so selected the youngest Prem side to play anywhere at elite level this season so far. In the event Villa proved superior with their experienced team and were two up by the break (22 & 33 mins). Roberts headed home a set piece around the hour mark and Connolly came off immediately afterwards. But unfortunately Duffy sustained injury ten minutes later and left the battle. Villa soon enough sealed it via another goal as BHA youngsters desperately defended their area again & again (77min). Potter was pleased with his U23 virgin outfit, many of whom made debuts on a night of boys versus men. Brighton fans at least got to see how far the U23 squad was behind the curve in their development as pros, bearing in mind lots of contemporaries were already out on loan either in the EFL or abroad. It was a numbers game but just maybe a few could eventually make the grade in future. Perhaps the academy system required more meaningful competition, as in knockouts like this and the EFL Trophy, to sort chaff from wheat.
Stats: shape 343-433, ht 0-2, goals 61-22,33,77, poss 30%-70%, on target 6-10, off target 8-18, corners 3-11, fouls 7-11, yellows 2-1, subs 3-3. MoM - Roberts. Gate - 14,982, away 2305. Weather - mild & dry.
27 Button, 58 Roberts Y, 4 Duffy (49 Yapi 72), 3 Bong, 51 A Davies, 72 Jenks (71 Spong 82), 28 Baluta, 50 Cochrane, 44 Connolly (60 Longman 58), 45 Richards Y, 55 Gwargis. Subs - 23 Steele, 52 J Davies, 53 O'Hora, 56 Radulovic.

Villa:
3qtrs: P22 W6 D3 L13 F28 A43 GD-15 Pt21 Po18 = 0.90pt/gm. Wins = 27.2%, Loss = 59%
Hlfwy: P19 W5 D3 L11 F25 A33 GD-8 Pt19 Po18 = 1.00pt/gm. Wins = 26.3%, Loss = 57.8%
Start: P10 W3 D2 L5 F15 A16 GD-1 Pt11 Po14 = 1.10pt/gm. Wins = 30%, Loss = 50%
EFL Cup: s-f - Leicester 1-1 (A), q-f - Liverpool 5-0 (H), 4th rnd - Wolves 2-1 (H), 3rd rnd - Brighton 1-3 (A), 2nd rnd - Crewe 1-6 (A)
FA Cup: Fulham 2-1 (A) R3.
Aug: left in the bottom three, although did score enough times to reduce goal difference.
Oct: eased into lower mid table by end of start Q1.
New Year: just above d-z but dumped out of FA Cup by ex-Prem outfit.
March:

Previous Prem:
16/17 to 18/19 - not Premier League.
15/16 - P38 W3 D8 L27 F27 A76 GD-49 Pt17 Po20 = 0.44pt/gm. Wins = 7.8%, Loss = 71% - Remi Garde.
14/15 - P38 W10 D8 L20 F31 A57 GD-26 Pt38 Po17 = 1.00pt/gm. Wins = 26.3%, Loss = 52.6% - Tim Sherwood.
13/14 - P38 W10 D8 L20 F39 A61 GD-22 Pt38 Po15 = 1.00pt/gm. Wins = 26.3%, Loss = 52.6% - Paul Lambert.

FA CUP; from 13/14 - 3rd rnd, final, 4th rnd, 3rd rnd, 3rd rnd, 3rd rnd, 3rd rnd.
LEAGUE CUP; from 13/14 - 3rd rnd, 2nd rnd, 4th rnd, 1st rnd, 3rd rnd, 2nd rnd.
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Aston Villa - home, Falmer years.
Season6 (H) Championship 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
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Withdean Era - no league meetings H&A in 12 seasons between 1999 and 2011.

Aston Villa - Away, Falmer Years 19/20 Prem, 16/17 C'ship.
Villa @ Home
19/20 - P11 W4 D2 L5 F14 A20 GD-6 Pt14 Po18 = 1.27pt/gm or 66.6% of total points. Wins = 36.3%, Loss = 45.4% - Dean Smith.
16/17 to 18/19 - not Premier League.
15/16 - P19 W2 D5 L12 F14 A35 GD-21 (Po15) = 0.57pt/gm or 64.7% of total points. Wins = 10.5%, Loss = 63.1% - Remi Garde.
14/15 - P19 W5 D6 L8 F18 A25 GD-7 (Po17) = 1.10pt/gm or 55.2% of total points. Wins = 26.3%, Loss = 42.1% - Tim Sherwood.
13/14 - P19 W6 D3 L10 F22 A29 GD-7 (Po15) = 1.10pt/gm or 55.2% of total points. Wins = 31.5%, Loss = 52.6% - Paul Lambert.

Season9 3rd Premier League (A) Sat 19/10/19 - L 2-1 ~ Webster
A much anticipated renewed league meeting with Villa occurred just after the second international break, during October. Through coincidence we'd recently played them, last month at the Amex, in an EFL Cup R3 tie. It was a Prem fixture now, although had hardly crossed paths previously (see Season6 below) with the ex-Prem midlands outfit. And late in the noughties Withdean era we'd only visited here for an FA Cup R4 tie, when Albion were a League One club. Anyway the state of play currently was Seagulls, now under coach Graham Potter, had accumulated just enough points to reside in midtable with Villans. This upcoming contest would supposedly show how each outfit had progressed thus far, bearing in mind the relative spending power of each PL sides owners. BHA hadn't gone overboard with pre-season signings, while Villa had splashed those millions well into three figures. Both squads were altered compared to last term but for different reasons. Quite a number of previous Seagulls players were now gone or out on loan, to make way for summer replacements or U23s on the up.
Albion were beaten right at the death after leading until just before the break. Webster nodded in from Gross f-k to highlight useful play from visitors during the first half (21min). Then Mooy got sent off for two quick bookables and the game changed dramatically (31 & 35min). Villa soon had the ball in the net but it was chalked off by VAR. Moments later they equalised on stroke of halftime and it gave hosts a vital lift (45+min). Potter withdrew Connolly for March at start of the second period, leaving Maupay alone up front. Albion huffed & puffed but everything remained the same while the clock ticked down. Potter put Duffy in after Montoya got a yellow and later Alzate went on, moving March to point. Seagulls flapped a few times at the back but Ryan held firm as last line of defence. But deep into stoppage Villa bagged their winner (90+4min). Potter said, 'I'm not one to criticise referees but you will see worse red cards.' Brighton fans were choked, especially after witnessing two goals against in time added on. It was a double psycological moment for all away concerned and not one for a happy outcome. At end of the day BHA went home with nothing, minus a player banned to boot.
Stats: shape 43-442, ht 1-1, goals 45,90-21, poss 49%-51%, on target 8-5, off target 8-8, blocks 8-7, crosses 31-17, corners 7-5, o/s 1-0, tackles 6-11, fouls 9-17, yellows 1-2, red 0-1, subs 3-3. Gate - 41,826, away 3010. Weather - autumnal. MoM - Webster.
1 Ryan, 22 Montoya Y (4 Duffy 70), 15 Webster, 5 Dunk, 33 Burn, 13 Gross, 6 Stephens, 24 Propper, 18 Mooy R, 44 Connolly (20 March 46 Y), 7 Maupay (46 Alzate 81) Subs - 27 Button, 8 Bissouma, 11 Trossard, 17 Murray.
Squad - 3 Bong, 14 Balogun, 16 Jahanbakhsh, 21 Schelotto. Injured - 19 Izquierdo, 30 Bernardo.
Prem P9 . W1 D2 L1 . F5 A4 . W1 D1 L3 . F4 A8 . Pt9 Po16 = 1.00pt/gm. Wins = 22.2%, Loss = 44.4%
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Aston Villa - away, Falmer years.
Season6 (A) Championship 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
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Withdean Era - 12 seasons from 1999 to 2011.
Season11 09/10 (A) FA Cup.