Report and reaction as Albion lose to Villa

Albion 0, Villa 3: Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen goals sentence Seagulls to first league defeat in six.

Bruce Talbot

2025-04-02T21:45+01:00

Simon Adingra can't believe it after his second-half equaliser was ruled out for a handball. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Albion suffered their first Premier League defeat in six after falling to three second-half goals at the Amex.

Yasin Ayari hit the post in the first half and Simon Adingra had a goal disallowed just after Marcus Rashford had put Villa ahead after 51 minutes. Another counter-attack, finished off by substitute Marco Asensio, and a goal with virtually the last kick by Donyell Malen sealed a victory which lifted Villa above Albion, who dropped a place to eighth in the table. Villa's winning margin felt harsh on Albion.

Two incidents illuminated a first half which came to the boil after a cagey first 15 minutes. Rashford, playing centrally for Villa, curled an effort well wide and Albion responded through the lively Kaoru Mitoma, whose low drive was saved by Emi Martinez, and Adingra whose effort from the edge the box rattled just wide.

Jan Paul van Hecke attacks a set-piece in the second half. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Villa were convinced they should had a penalty when Jacob Ramsey went down under Jack Hinshelwood’s challenge but the VAR ruled there hadn’t been sufficient contact. Matty Cash volleyed over but Albion went closest before the break. Boubacar Kamara brought down Ayari a yard outside the box and the Swede’s free kick was touched onto the inside of the post by Martinez – a top save by the World Cup winner.

Kaoru Mitoma challenges Boubacar Kamara. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Martinez played a crucial role when Villa went ahead six minutes after the break. He claimed Jan Paul van Hecke’s header from an Albion corner, rolled the ball to Morgan Rogers whose long ball set Rashford away from inside his own half to steer a right-foot shot past Bart Verbruggen.

Lewis Dunk and Marcus Rashford only have eyes for the ball. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Harsh on Albion and three minutes later their sense of injustice increased when an equaliser was ruled out. Referee Attwell, after being sent to the monitor, penalised Mitoma for handball after his cross had been lashed home by Adingra. The ball struck Mitoma on the bicep and appeared to roll down onto his hand, although the contact was minimal. It proved to be the turning point.

Joao Pedro holds off Villa defender Pau Torres. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Hurzeler turned to his bench with 20 minutes left, a quadruple change including a debut for Eiran Cashin who was given a great ovation by Albion fans. By then Albion had Villa boxed into their final third, the visitors content to soak up pressure and try to counter attack. They did so tellingly with 12 minutes to go for their second goal. Rogers created it with a run down the right and pull-back into the path of Asensio who beat Verbruggen with a perfectly placed side-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Ten minutes of stoppage time gave Albion renewed hope but instead it was Villa who embellished their winning margin when substitute Malen beat Verbruggen with a shot into the far corner with the last kick of the game.

The line-up

Verbruggen, Hinshelwood (Wieffer 72), Dunk (Cashin 72), van Hecke, Estupinan, Adingra, Ayari, Gomez (Baleba 72), Mitoma, Gruda (O’Riley 84), Joao Pedro (Welbeck 72).

Subs not used: Rushworth, March, Minteh, O’Reilly, Tasker.

Referee: S. Attwell.

Attendance: 31,230

Fabian Hurzeler's verdict...

It was a frustrating night for Fabian Hurzler as Albion went down 3-0 to Aston Villa. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

"I think the first goal changed the momentum of the game for sure. The VAR was involved in a lot of incidents. The decisions were right but of course it breaks the the rhythm of the game, kills momentum and then makes it difficult for the players to readjust.

"The small margins made a big difference. For their first goal we had a corner and they score from it on the counter-attack. I think we created enough chance in the first half to win this game, so there were positive things. We defended quite well and were well organised and if we had scored the first goal we might sit here with a completely different mood.

"So a lot of frustrations and therefore we have to analyse it and we have a chance on Saturday against Crystal Palace to respond. We need to improve on the small things, that is the main thing."