EPL: Aston Villa Held by Brighton as Ollie Watkins Celebrates Birthday with Goal

Ollie Watkins scored on his birthday but Aston Villa were held to a draw by Brighton, who equalized late on through Tariq Lamptey.

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrated his 29th birthday in style, scoring a goal and providing an assist, but his team has was ultimately held to a draw by Brighton in a fiercely contested Premier League match.

Brighton struck first in the 12th minute, with Simon Adingra unleashing a magnificent curling shot on the counterattack. Villa had earlier been denied a penalty, but their persistence paid off in the 36th minute when they were awarded a spot-kick after a lengthy VAR review. The decision was made after referee Craig Pawson consulted the pitchside monitor, confirming that Brighton's Joao Pedro had fouled Morgan Rogers in the area.

Watkins, who had returned to the starting lineup, confidently converted the penalty, sending keeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way to level the score. Villa completed their comeback two minutes into the second half when Watkins delivered a delightful chip over the top, which Rogers collected and slotted into the bottom corner.

However, Villa's lead was short-lived, as Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey equalized in the 81st minute with a powerful finish past Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez. The draw kept Villa in ninth place, three points adrift of fifth spot, which could potentially secure Champions League qualification this season.

Brighton, who have struggled on the road at Villa, winning just once in 15 away games, remained in 10th place. Despite extending their winless run to seven matches, the Seagulls will take heart from their resilient performance against a strong Villa side.

Ollie Watkins had a point to prove on Monday night, having been benched by manager Unai Emery in favor of Jhon Duran for Villa's last three matches. However, with Duran suspended following his red card at Newcastle, Watkins was handed his first start in almost three weeks, and he seized the opportunity to make a statement.

Villa's first penalty appeal was rejected in the 30th minute when Morgan Rogers and Jan Paul van Hecke collided in the area. The referee waved play on, and VAR backed up the decision. However, in the very next phase of play, Brighton striker Joao Pedro attempted to clear a corner but ended up catching Rogers instead of the ball.

After a VAR review, which also ruled out an earlier foul on Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen, Villa was awarded a penalty. Watkins coolly converted the spot-kick, sending the keeper the wrong way. The England striker continued to cause problems for Brighton's defense, going close with several headers before setting up Rogers for Villa's second goal.

Watkins had another chance to score in the final minute following a corner, but he fired his effort over the bar from close range. Despite Villa's impressive attacking display, they lost concentration at the back late on, allowing Tariq Lamptey to snatch the equalizer and leave Villa with a share of the points.

The late collapse marked a familiar theme for Villa, who have now conceded 11 goals in the last 15 minutes of Premier League matches this season – more than any other side. This vulnerability at the back has cost Villa precious points, and manager Unai Emery will be eager to address this issue to ensure his team can capitalize on their attacking prowess.

Upon reflection, Brighton will likely view the draw as a satisfactory outcome. Following their early goal, the Seagulls struggled to create meaningful scoring opportunities in the first half. However, they gained momentum in the closing stages, with Fabian Hurzeler's tactical adjustments paying dividends.

Brighton's Premier League win drought now stretches back to November 23, when they secured a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth. Despite showing resilience over the Christmas period, the Seagulls have drawn their last three matches. In an effort to revitalize his team's inconsistent form, Hurzeler made four changes to his starting lineup.

The tactical adjustments proved fruitful, as two of the newcomers, Simon Adingra and Tariq Lamptey, scored crucial goals. Adingra's opener and Lamptey's late equalizer were testament to Hurzeler's astute decision-making. As Brighton prepares to host title contenders Arsenal on January 4, they face the daunting prospect of potentially extending their winless streak to eight matches.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa will look to capitalize on their next fixture, a home encounter against struggling Leicester on January 4. A victory would provide a welcome boost to Villa's momentum, while Brighton will aim to rediscover their winning formula against the formidable Arsenal side.