BRIGHTON COLLAPSE: ASTON VILLA EXPLOIT ERRORS FOR THRILLING 4-3 ROAD WIN
Unai Emery's tactical changes led Aston Villa to a dramatic 4-3 win over Brighton. Emery praises Watkins' confidence and Bizot's late heroics.
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Aston Villa's coach, Unai Emery, is hoping that Ollie Watkins' two goals in the first half of their exciting 4-3 comeback win against Brighton will help him get back to his best scoring form.
Villa is now third in the Premier League after coming back from being two goals down at Brighton's stadium. This win marks their eighth in the last nine league matches.
Watkins hadn't scored in 11 games before this match, but he managed to score twice, cancelling out goals from Jan Paul van Hecke and an own goal by Pau Torres. This brought his season total to three goals.
Amadou Onana and Donyell Malen, who came in as substitutes, also scored for Villa, completing the comeback. Although Van Hecke scored again for Brighton, it wasn't enough to stop Villa from winning.
Watkins, who plays for England, was brought back into the team as one of five changes from their 1-0 win over Wolves. He has now scored nine goals in 10 games against Brighton.
Emery said that Watkins always gives him confidence because of his hard work and focus during matches. He added that even when Watkins isn't scoring, he stays confident, and the goals will eventually come. Emery hopes Watkins can continue to balance his hard work with scoring goals.
Before the game, Villa had to make a late change when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez got injured during the warm-up.
Marco Bizot, the backup goalkeeper, was at fault for Brighton's first goal but made up for it with a crucial save in added time, stopping a header from Danny Welbeck.
Emery explained that Martinez felt a block in his back and couldn't warm up properly. He praised Bizot, calling him a fantastic professional who knew his role and was ready to play when needed. Emery acknowledged Bizot's mistake on the first goal but pointed out that it's hard for goalkeepers to defend corners. He also highlighted Bizot's fantastic save at the end of the game and said that he always works hard and is responsible.
Brighton has dropped to seventh place after their 10-game unbeaten run at home, which dated back to a 3-0 loss to Villa in early April, came to an end.
Brighton's coach, Fabian Hurzeler, admitted his disappointment at losing a 2-0 lead, saying that these things can happen, especially in the Premier League against good teams.
He said that it shouldn't have happened and that they would analyse the game to try and improve next time. Hurzeler felt that his team defended quite well in the first half but that the goals they conceded seemed to come out of nowhere and were more about individual errors.
He also pointed out that they conceded two goals from set pieces, which made the difference in the end. Hurzeler acknowledged the importance of set pieces and said that they would analyse their defence and keep working on it.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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