Brighton & Hove Albion demolished Aston Villa 4-0 in their opening Premier League fixture of the season, with Aston Villa reduced to ten men before half-time after Joao Gomes was shown a red card.
The hosts took the lead in the 8th minute when Victor Lindelof headed a Brighton cross into his own net. Brighton doubled their advantage soon after through Maxim De Cuyper, who finished from a cross supplied by Georginio Rutter.
Four goals inside 31 minutes
Rutter almost added a third himself in the 24th minute, but his effort was stopped by Aston Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot. Brighton were not to be denied for long. Jack Hinshelwood headed in a third goal for Brighton in the 30th minute, then struck again a minute later to make it 4-0. Aston Villa's afternoon worsened further in the 40th minute when Gomes was sent off, leaving the team down a man and four goals behind at the break.
Aston Villa finished fourth in the Premier League last season, a result that earned them a place in the league phase of the Champions League. Matty Cash and his teammates had hoped to build on that form this season, but instead endured one of the heaviest defeats of the opening weekend.
Villa unable to respond
Brighton spent the second half managing the lead they had built. Aston Villa pushed forward but could not find a way through. Ian Maatsen shot wide of the left post in the 52nd minute, while Hinshelwood, chasing a hat-trick, tried his luck again in the 58th minute. In the 66th minute Brighton thought they had scored a fifth through Charalampos Kostoulas, but the goal was ruled out for offside. The score stayed 4-0 until the final whistle.
Aston Villa will face Arsenal in their second match of the season, while Brighton travel to take on Chelsea.
