• ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez - 7: A great save to deny Lamptey kept the scores level when heading into the break, as the Argentina international helped swing the pendulum back into Villa’s favour. Reuters
    ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez - 7: A great save to deny Lamptey kept the scores level when heading into the break, as the Argentina international helped swing the pendulum back into Villa’s favour. Reuters
  • Matt Targett - 7: Strong in the tackle and looked to play to the home crowd who were lifted by his challenges, and he was equally as impressive going forward. PA
    Matt Targett - 7: Strong in the tackle and looked to play to the home crowd who were lifted by his challenges, and he was equally as impressive going forward. PA
  • Tyrone Mings - 7: Commanding performance at the back. A strong header came agonisingly close to giving Aston Villa the lead but was denied by Steele, but he made no mistake with his second chance of game when striking home from Webster's attempt to clear. PA
    Tyrone Mings - 7: Commanding performance at the back. A strong header came agonisingly close to giving Aston Villa the lead but was denied by Steele, but he made no mistake with his second chance of game when striking home from Webster's attempt to clear. PA
  • Ezri Konsa - 6: Kept the shape and didn’t make any errors; new manager Steven Gerrard can’t ask for much more than that from his centre-half. Reuters
    Ezri Konsa - 6: Kept the shape and didn’t make any errors; new manager Steven Gerrard can’t ask for much more than that from his centre-half. Reuters
  • Matty Cash - 6: A bright display from full-back who got the better of his man more often than not. No nonsense with balls into the box, and chose the right times to get forward. AP
    Matty Cash - 6: A bright display from full-back who got the better of his man more often than not. No nonsense with balls into the box, and chose the right times to get forward. AP
  • Jacob Ramsey - 5: The 20-year-old was too often anonymous as Villa struggled to keep possession in spells. Getty
    Jacob Ramsey - 5: The 20-year-old was too often anonymous as Villa struggled to keep possession in spells. Getty
  • Marvelous Nakamba - 6: Worked hard in midfield and was effective in stalling Brighton attacks. Reuters
    Marvelous Nakamba - 6: Worked hard in midfield and was effective in stalling Brighton attacks. Reuters
  • John McGinn - 8: The Scottish midfielder seemed noticeably buoyed by the arrival of Gerrard. He was exuberant in challenges, wanted to get on the ball, and asked questions of the Brighton defence when he was given the opportunity to deliver into the box. AFP
    John McGinn - 8: The Scottish midfielder seemed noticeably buoyed by the arrival of Gerrard. He was exuberant in challenges, wanted to get on the ball, and asked questions of the Brighton defence when he was given the opportunity to deliver into the box. AFP
  • Danny Ings - 5: A bad first touch let him down after getting on the end of Buendia’s pass. Despite working hard, things didn’t quite come off for the striker. AFP
    Danny Ings - 5: A bad first touch let him down after getting on the end of Buendia’s pass. Despite working hard, things didn’t quite come off for the striker. AFP
  • Ollie Watkins - 7: Striker was quiet throughout the majority of the game but he displayed his class when he cut inside and unleashed a finish into the far corner late-on. PA
    Ollie Watkins - 7: Striker was quiet throughout the majority of the game but he displayed his class when he cut inside and unleashed a finish into the far corner late-on. PA
  • Emiliano Buendia - 6: Linked play well in moments but came in and out of the game too often. An incisive pass to Ings should have been converted by the forward. PA
    Emiliano Buendia - 6: Linked play well in moments but came in and out of the game too often. An incisive pass to Ings should have been converted by the forward. PA
  • SUBS: Leon Bailey - (On for Ings 66') 6: Was problematic for Brighton as the dynamic forward provided something different on the ball. Reuters
    SUBS: Leon Bailey - (On for Ings 66') 6: Was problematic for Brighton as the dynamic forward provided something different on the ball. Reuters
  • Ashley Young - (On for Buendia 74') N/A: Added experience into the middle of the park and got an assist just ten minutes after coming on. Getty
    Ashley Young - (On for Buendia 74') N/A: Added experience into the middle of the park and got an assist just ten minutes after coming on. Getty
  • Anwar El Ghazi - (On for Ramsey 84') N/A: Came onto the pitch and made an instant impact as his run opened up the space for Ollie Watkins to send the ball home. AFP
    Anwar El Ghazi - (On for Ramsey 84') N/A: Came onto the pitch and made an instant impact as his run opened up the space for Ollie Watkins to send the ball home. AFP
  • BRIGHTON RATINGS: Jason Steele - 6: Got out quickly to close down the angle on Ings and produced an excellent save from Mings’ header. Couldn’t do much about the opener from Watkins. AFP
    BRIGHTON RATINGS: Jason Steele - 6: Got out quickly to close down the angle on Ings and produced an excellent save from Mings’ header. Couldn’t do much about the opener from Watkins. AFP
  • Adam Webster - 7: Got in the way of everything as he answered the majority of questions that Villa asked of him. The standout performer of Brighton’s back three. AP
    Adam Webster - 7: Got in the way of everything as he answered the majority of questions that Villa asked of him. The standout performer of Brighton’s back three. AP
  • Lewis Dunk - 6: Commanded the backline that looked unphased until they conceded two quick goals late on. Dunk seemed to enjoy the challenge of beating Villa’s forwards to crosses inside the box. AFP
    Lewis Dunk - 6: Commanded the backline that looked unphased until they conceded two quick goals late on. Dunk seemed to enjoy the challenge of beating Villa’s forwards to crosses inside the box. AFP
  • Shane Duffy - 6: Allowed Brighton to get the ball forward quickly with some accurate long balls from the back and defended well throughout a majority of the game. AFP
    Shane Duffy - 6: Allowed Brighton to get the ball forward quickly with some accurate long balls from the back and defended well throughout a majority of the game. AFP
  • Marc Cucurella - 6: Stretched play up the left flank and put in one excellent ball that should have been converted at the half-hour mark, but that was the only moment he enjoyed success going forward. Reuters
    Marc Cucurella - 6: Stretched play up the left flank and put in one excellent ball that should have been converted at the half-hour mark, but that was the only moment he enjoyed success going forward. Reuters
  • Pascal Gross - 6: Tried to ask questions of the defence with balls into the box and passed the ball well, but Brighton’s attack was out of tune on the day. Getty
    Pascal Gross - 6: Tried to ask questions of the defence with balls into the box and passed the ball well, but Brighton’s attack was out of tune on the day. Getty
  • Yves Bissouma - 7: A bright display defensively with Bissouma breaking up the play on a number of occasions to upset Villa breaks. Not as effective as usual going forward. Getty
    Yves Bissouma - 7: A bright display defensively with Bissouma breaking up the play on a number of occasions to upset Villa breaks. Not as effective as usual going forward. Getty
  • Adam Lallana - 6: Kept things ticking in the middle of the park with simple passes but the game seemed to pass Lallana by as Brighton struggled to create clearcut opportunities. Getty
    Adam Lallana - 6: Kept things ticking in the middle of the park with simple passes but the game seemed to pass Lallana by as Brighton struggled to create clearcut opportunities. Getty
  • Tariq Lamptey - 6: Positive going forward and got into dangerous areas but has to do better with his chance that was saved by Martinez. Getty
    Tariq Lamptey - 6: Positive going forward and got into dangerous areas but has to do better with his chance that was saved by Martinez. Getty
  • Jakub Moder - 5: Deployed up-front which Moder isn’t used to playing, and he looked out of sorts too often on the day, wasting possession of the ball on a number of occasions. AFP
    Jakub Moder - 5: Deployed up-front which Moder isn’t used to playing, and he looked out of sorts too often on the day, wasting possession of the ball on a number of occasions. AFP
  • Leandro Trossard - 6: Easy on the eye when in possession, but struggled lacked service at Villa Park. Gertty
    Leandro Trossard - 6: Easy on the eye when in possession, but struggled lacked service at Villa Park. Gertty
  • SUBS- Solly March - (On for Cucurella 64') 5: Made little impact after being introduced. Getty
    SUBS- Solly March - (On for Cucurella 64') 5: Made little impact after being introduced. Getty
  • Neal Maupay - (On for Lamptey 79') N/A: Tried to stretch the line but Brighton soon found themselves behind. Getty
    Neal Maupay - (On for Lamptey 79') N/A: Tried to stretch the line but Brighton soon found themselves behind. Getty
  • Alexis MacAllister - (On for Gross 89') N/A. Getty
    Alexis MacAllister - (On for Gross 89') N/A. Getty

Sport

Football

Aston Villa v Brighton player ratings: McGinn 8, Watkins 7; Bissouma 7, Lamptey 6

Steven Gerrard starts reign with 2-0 win over Seagulls at Villa Park

Adam Brown

November 21, 2021

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Steven Gerrard enjoyed a winning start to his reign as Aston Villa manager after a 2-0 home victory over Brighton on Saturday.

Late goals from Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings gave Villa the points, ending a run of five league defeats that resulted in the club sacking Dean Smith and replacing him with Gerrard.

The 41-year-old has had to field questions this week about whether his new job is merely a stepping stone to becoming the next manager of his former club Liverpool — an idea that irritated Gerrard who clearly enjoyed the victory against Graham Potter's Seagulls.

“I will always be as authentic as I can. If anyone doubts me watch me after those goals. That is real. They are the buzzes, the highs you miss as a player. They are why you want to stay in the game. They are my medicine,” Gerrard said after the win at Villa Park that lifted his team up to 15th in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone.

“You are trying to control your emotions, but inside you are kicking every ball. I want to coach from the side, I want to be visible and help them, guide them. Inside is what was with me as a player, that will to win, that drive … I hate losing.”

“We were a bit tense at times [against Brighton] but I thought we finished the game extremely strongly. We have got a lot of things to build on. In time we will become stronger and grow and get better.”

Brighton have now gone seven games without a win in all competitions, although they still sit a healthy eighth place in the table.

You can see the player ratings from Saturday's game in the gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Updated: November 21, 2021, 10:44 AM
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