Danny Ings double helps Aston Villa beat Brighton to claim first away league win

Victory continues bright start in Premier League for new manager Unai Emery

Aston Villa's Danny Ings celebrates scoring their winner in the 2-1 Premier League victory against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on November 13, 2022. PA

Aston Villa's Danny Ings scores their winner against Brighton. PA

Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring Brighton's opener. Getty

Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates scoring. PA

Villa's Danny Ings celebrates after levelling at 1-1 from the penalty spot. Getty

Aston Villa's Danny Ings scores their first goal from the penalty spot past Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez. Reuters

Aston Villa's Danny Ings scores his penalty. PA

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez makes a save from a corner. Getty

Ludwig Augustinsson, Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa celebrate following their win. Getty

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery shakes hands with Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi. Reuters

Brighton's Leandro Trossard appeals to referee Chris Kavanagh after his long-range goal is denied by VAR for an earlier foul. Reuters

Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia hits the post with a diving header. Reuters

Jacob Ramsey of Aston Villa is challenged by Julio Enciso of Brighton. Getty

Pervis Estupinan of Brighton is tackled by John McGinn of Aston Villa. Getty

Pervis Estupinan of Brighton. Getty

Brighton's Adam Lallana is injured. Reuters

John McGinn of Aston Villa tangles with Solly March of Brighton. Getty

Brighton and Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck battles for the ball with Aston Villa's Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn.PA

Brighton's Lewis Dunk fouls Aston Villa's John McGinn to give away a penalty. Reuters

Julio Enciso of Brighton is challenged by Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa. Getty

A brace from Danny Ings helped Aston Villa end their away day blues in the Premier League at the eighth time of asking with a 2-1 victory at Brighton.

Villa’s dismal record on the road this season contributed to Steven Gerrard’s sacking last month but successor Unai Emery was able to celebrate three points on the south coast after a fine comeback.

Alexis Mac Allister fired Brighton into an early lead but the away side regrouped and claimed the spoils with Ings netting a first-half penalty before his deflected strike early in the second half downed Roberto De Zerbi’s men, who were denied a late penalty by VAR.

This was the penultimate Premier League fixture before the World Cup and, while there were some absentees, seven Qatar-bound players started.

Mac Allister was one of them and celebrated his Argentina call-up with a goal after 49 seconds against his compatriot Emi Martinez. It was the fastest goal Brighton had ever scored in the Premier League.

Villa goalkeeper Martinez was partly culpable after playing a short pass into Douglas Luiz, but the Brazilian was brushed aside too easily by Mac Allister, who rifled home his fifth goal of the season.

A frantic opening period continued with Adam Lallana being forced off with injury before Jacob Ramsey went down for the visitors but he was able to continue.

Levi Colwill had already denied Ings with a fine sliding tackle to make an impressive start to his full debut in the Premier League.

Villa responded well to going behind and claimed a deserved leveller in the 20th minute.

Emi Buendia found space and produced a perfectly weighted pass for John McGinn to race on to with Lewis Dunk bringing down the Scotland captain inside the area.

It gave Ings the chance to score from 12-yards, which he duly accepted but only after Robert Sanchez got a hand to his penalty kick.

Poland international Matty Cash and Mac Allister had to shake off niggles not long afterwards, before Pascal Gross almost caught out Villa goalkeeper Martinez with a wicked inswinging delivery from a corner.

Down at the other end, Dunk made a timely sliding block to thwart Ramsey after Ings’ flick to ensure it remained 1-1 at half-time.

Leandro Trossard found the net five minutes into the second period but his long-range screamer did not count after referee Chris Kavanagh had already blown his whistle for a foul on Cash.

Cash almost created Villa’s second when he got in behind Pervis Estupinan and crossed for Buendia, but the Argentinian’s diving header hit the post.

Emery’s side stayed alert and did take the lead seconds later in the 54th minute.

Luiz was able to atone for his mistake for Brighton’s opener after he won possession from Mac Allister outside the hosts’ penalty area and Ings dribbled past a rash Dunk tackle before his effort beat Sanchez after a deflection off Colwill.

De Zerbi had seen enough and brought off early substitute Julio Enciso in a double change that saw Joel Veltman and Deniz Undav introduced.

It improved the Seagulls, who wanted a penalty when Lucas Digne and Solly March came together with the Villa defender clearly catching the home winger but despite a VAR check by Jarred Gillett, no spot-kick was given.

This only added to the frustration of De Zerbi, who was booked for repeatedly remonstrating about Villa’s time-wasting and despite eight minutes of stoppage time, no leveller could be found with Emery celebrating another win.

Manchester United 4 Aston Villa 2 - player ratings