Watkins scores hat-trick as Villa thump Brighton

2 months ago 35

By Matthew HowarthBBC Sport

Last updated on 3 minutes ago.From the section Premier League

Ollie Watkins scores his second of the game in Aston Villa's Premier League game at home to Brighton

Ollie Watkins' second of the game was awarded following a VAR check for a possible offside against Nicolo Zaniolo

Ollie Watkins scored his second hat-trick of the season as Aston Villa delivered a ruthless display to thrash high-flying Brighton at Villa Park.

Watkins gave Unai Emery's side an early lead, finishing coolly into the left corner after Matty Cash had picked out the forward with a low cross.

The 27-year-old went close with a rasping drive that flew inches wide, before doubling his personal tally with a low shot inside Jason Steele's right-hand post.

Sharper to the ball and stronger in the challenge, Villa were all over Brighton and increased their lead just five minutes later when Moussa Diaby's scuffed shot deflected in off the unfortunate Pervis Estupinan.

Half-time substitute Ansu Fati pulled one back as Brighton improved after the restart, but Watkins' third of the game - a powerful drive that took a deflection off Adam Webster on its way in - ended the visitors' hopes of an unlikely comeback.

Watkins, who also scored three against Hibernian in Europa Conference League qualifying, is the first Villa player to net more than one hat-trick in a season since Andy Gray in 1976-77.

Late efforts from Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz were the icing on the cake for Villa, who move level on points with the Seagulls in the Premier League table.

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Aston Villa

Squad number1Player nameE Martínez

Squad number2Player nameCash

Squad number4Player nameKonsa

Squad number14Player nameP Torres

Squad number12Player nameDigne

Squad number44Player nameKamara

Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz

Squad number7Player nameMcGinn

Squad number19Player nameDiaby

Squad number22Player nameZaniolo

Squad number11Player nameWatkins

Squad number8Player nameTielemans

Squad number24Player nameDurán

Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey

Brighton & Hove Albion

Squad number23Player nameSteele

Squad number34Player nameVeltman

Squad number4Player nameWebster

Squad number5Player nameDunk

Squad number30Player nameEstupiñán

Squad number41Player nameHinshelwood

Squad number11Player nameGilmour

Squad number7Player nameMarch

Squad number18Player nameWelbeck

Squad number22Player nameMitoma

Squad number28Player nameFerguson

Squad number2Player nameLamptey

Squad number9Player nameJoão Pedro

Squad number20Player nameBaleba

Squad number24Player nameAdingra

Squad number31Player nameAnsu Fati

Line-ups

Aston Villa

Formation 4-2-3-1

1E Martínez2Cash4KonsaBooked at 57mins14P Torres12DigneBooked at 32mins44KamaraSubstituted forTielemansat 90'minutes6Douglas LuizBooked at 7mins7McGinn19DiabySubstituted forDuránat 79'minutesBooked at 90mins22ZanioloSubstituted forJ Ramseyat 57'minutes11Watkins

Substitutes

3Diego Carlos8Tielemans9Traoré16Chambers17Lenglet24Durán25Olsen32Dendoncker41J Ramsey

Brighton

Formation 4-2-3-1

23Steele34Veltman4Webster5DunkBooked at 78mins30EstupiñánSubstituted forLampteyat 45'minutes41HinshelwoodSubstituted forBalebaat 87'minutes11Gilmour7MarchSubstituted forAdingraat 62'minutes18WelbeckBooked at 39minsSubstituted forJoão Pedroat 45'minutes22MitomaBooked at 84mins28FergusonSubstituted forAnsu Fatiat 45'minutesBooked at 72mins

Substitutes

1Verbruggen2Lamptey3dos Santos de Paulo8Dahoud9João Pedro20Baleba24Adingra29van Hecke31Ansu Fati

Referee:Andy Madley

Attendance:40,636

Live Text

Match ends, Aston Villa 6, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.

Second Half ends, Aston Villa 6, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.

Goal! Aston Villa 6, Brighton and Hove Albion 1. Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.

Attempt saved. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by John McGinn.

Hand ball by Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Jhon Durán (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.

Simon Adingra (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa).

Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Matty Cash.

Attempt missed. Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ollie Watkins with a headed pass.

Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. João Pedro tries a through ball, but Simon Adingra is caught offside.

Foul by Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution, Aston Villa. Youri Tielemans replaces Boubacar Kamara because of an injury.

Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Jacob Ramsey.

Foul by Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt missed. Billy Gilmour (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kaoru Mitoma with a headed pass.

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