UPDATE: In a thrilling match on September 30, 2023, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins delivered a stunning performance, scoring twice in the first half to help his team achieve a dramatic 4-3 comeback victory against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium. This win propels Villa to third place in the Premier League, marking their eighth victory in nine matches.
Watkins, who had been in a goal drought for 11 games, finally found the back of the net, bringing his season total to three goals. His first goal canceled out Jan Paul van Hecke’s opening strike, and he followed it by equalizing after a Pau Torres own goal. Villa’s resilience was further highlighted by goals from Amadou Onana and substitute Donyell Malen, sealing a remarkable turnaround before Brighton’s Van Hecke scored again, making for a tense finish.
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery expressed hope that this performance could reignite Watkins’ scoring form. “With Ollie, he’s giving me confidence always when he’s working, when he’s focusing on the match, like he was doing,” Emery stated. “Not scoring, sometimes the confidence is getting low but the goals are coming. Today he started it and hopefully he can keep now the balance between working and getting numbers.”
In a pre-match setback, Villa was forced to replace goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez due to a back injury sustained during warm-ups. Backup keeper Marco Bizot faced criticism for allowing Brighton’s first goal but redeemed himself with a crucial save against Danny Welbeck in added time. “He was feeling blocked in his back and he couldn’t even do a warm-up normally,” Emery explained about Martinez. “We have Marco, and he is a fantastic professional. How he saved the last action was fantastic.”
Brighton, now in seventh place, saw their impressive ten-match unbeaten home run come to an end. Head coach Fabian Hurzeler lamented the loss, stating, “Of course it’s disappointing when you’re leading 2-0. These moments can happen, especially in the Premier League, especially when you face a good team.” Hurzeler acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in defending set-pieces, which contributed to Villa’s comeback.
As the Premier League season progresses, all eyes will be on whether Ollie Watkins can maintain his momentum and help Aston Villa continue their ascent in the standings. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how this victory impacts both teams in the coming weeks.
