Aston Villa 1 Brighton 1 - Report

The substitute’s shot from outside the box somehow beat Seagulls keeper David Stockdale and meant it was Newcastle who were instead crowned champions.

Glenn Murray had earlier put Brighton on course for top spot when he fired home from the penalty spot, after Nathan Baker was shown a straight red card for bringing down Sam Baldock.

But it was Stockdale, who had earlier twice denied Conor Hourihane, who made the error which allowed Villa to take a deserved point.

Analysis

It was impossible not to feel sorry for the keeper, who had also saved from Scott Hogan as Villa enjoyed the better of the opening hour against the strangely sluggish Seagulls.

Baker’s dismissal and Murray’s subsequent spot-kick in the 63rd minute looked to have been the game’s decisive moment but Villa stuck to their task and were eventually rewarded with Grealish’s goal.

This was far from the worst performance of the season for an already depleted Villa, who then lost Hogan to injury late in the first half.

Nevertheless, a big summer awaits manager Steve Bruce if his team are to follow the Seagulls in the Premier League 12 months from now.

With Mile Jedinak missing with a groin strain, Alan Hutton nursing fractured ribs and top scorer Jonathan Kodjia ruled out for up to six months, changes to Villa’s starting XI were inevitable.

In the end, Bruce made three, with James Bree and Albert Adomah replacing the injured duo and Jordan Amavi coming in for Gary Gardner, who dropped to the bench.

Brighton needed to equal Newcastle’s result in order to be crowned champions, yet there was little urgency from either team in an opening 20 minutes in which the only effort on goal was a long range shot from Henri Lansbury which Stockdale palmed round the post.

The first big chance of the game then fell to Lansbury, who somehow contrived to head wide from five yards out after Sebastien Pocognoli had headed Neil Taylor’s cross back across the face of his own goal.

On loan Albion left-back Pocognoli was proving to be the most creative player on the pitch as he presented Villa with another chance just past the half-hour mark.

His under-hit backpass was pounced on by Hogan but Stockdale stuck out a leg to deflect the striker’s shot wide of goal.

Hogan’s afternoon would be cut short on the stroke of half-time. The 24-year-old appeared in immediate discomfort after tumbling under a Sidwell challenge and though he was eventually able to walk off the field on his own following treatment, to be replaced by Keinan Davis, his injury is another headache for Bruce ahead of a big summer.

Hourihane brought a diving save out of Stockdale with the resulting free-kick as Villa closed out a half in which the visitors failed to register an attempt on target.

It was Villa who threatened again early in the second half with substitute Davis in the thick of the action.

The teenager saw loud appeals for a penalty waved away after he tumbled under a challenge from Lewis Dunk and then fired over from close range at a corner.

Finally the game was beginning to open up and though Villa still carried a threat, Brighton were carving out their first real chances of the game.

Murray watched a header drift just wide of the far post, before Baldock forced Johnstone into his first save of the afternoon with a stinging drive which the keeper just about got enough on to prevent it crossing the line.

And on 63 minutes the visitors claimed the lead and seemingly full control of the game as Baker was dismissed and Murray fired home from the spot.

It was the latter who played Baldock through on goal and though the striker got away a shot which was saved by Johnstone, referee Darren Bond adjudged Baker to have pulled him back and pointed to the spot before producing the red card.

Murray made no mistake with the penalty, sending Johnstone the wrong way to spark wild celebrations amid the 3,000 travelling supporters.

They were almost celebrating a second goal soon after when Tommy Elphick, on as a substitute, woefully undersold a backpass, allowing Murray to steal in on the left-side of the box. The goalscorer tried to square for Baldock but a recovering James Chester was able to block and keep his team in the game.

Further chances for the visitors followed and Johnstone saved smartly from Bruno.

The ten men of Villa still had their moments, however. Davis brought another save out of Stockdale after turning in the box, while Bree saw an effort deflect just over the bar.

Hourihane then brought another diving save out of Stockdale with a free-kick in the final ten minutes as Villa hunted a leveller.

Then, with just a minute remaining, Grealish’s speculative shot from outside the box beat Stockdale and saw Brighton denied the title at the last.

Davis then could have won it for Villa in stoppage time but shot straight at Stockdale when through on goal.

Key Moments

20 - Henri Lansbury misses a great chance to open the scoring for Villa when he heads wide from close range after a mistake by Sebastien Pocognoli.

35 - Brighton keeper David Stockdale denies Scott Hogan after a mistake by Pocognoli.

43 - Conor Hourihane brings a diving save from Stockdale with a free-kick after Hogan goes off injured.

58 - Sam Baldock brings a first save of the game out of Villa keeper Sam Johnstone with a stinging drive.

63 RED CARD Nathan Baker is shown a straight red card after being adjudged to have fouled Sam Baldock when the Brighton striker was through on goal. The Seagulls are also awarded a penalty.

64 GOAL Glenn Murray fires Brighton ahead and on course for the title as he sends Johnstone the wrong way from the spot.

89 GOAL Jack Grealish fires in a dramatic leveller for Villa, his shot going through the hands of Stockdale.

Teams

Villa (4-4-1-1): Johnstone, Bree, Chester, Baker, Taylor, Adomah (Grealish 61), Bacuna, Hourihane, Amavi (Elphick 65), Lansbury, Hogan (Davis 45) Subs not used: Richards, Gardner, O'Hare, Bunn (gk).

Brighton (4-4-2): Stockdale, Bruno (Rosenior 81), Dunk, Tomori, Pocognoli, Knockaert, Sidwell, Stephens, Murphy (March 61), Baldock (Hemed 90), Murray Subs not used: Bong, Kayal, Skalak, Maenpaa (gk).