Aston Villa win seven-goal thriller at Brighton as Watkins ends goal drought

Ollie Watkins ended an 11-game goal drought with a first-half double as high-flying Aston Villa overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Brighton 4-3.

Jan Paul van Hecke’s close-range finish and a Pau Torres own goal put the hosts on course to leapfrog Villa in the Premier League table.

But England international Watkins, who ahead of kick-off had struck once in 19 appearances this term, levelled with his ninth and 10th career goals against Albion, before Amadou Onana and substitute Donyell Malen completed the turnaround.

Brighton centre-back Van Hecke set up a tense finale by claiming his second of the evening seven minutes from time.

However, Unai Emery’s in-form side held on for an eighth victory in nine top-flight outings to inflict Brighton’s first home defeat of the season.

Marco Bizot started in Villa’s goal as part of five changes after Emiliano Martinez withdrew during the warm-up, while Lewis Dunk made his 500th appearance for a home team showing three alterations.

Dutchman Bizot was at fault as Fabian Hurzeler’s hosts snatched a ninth-minute lead in controversial fashion.

After they were incorrectly awarded a corner when the ball went behind off the head of Maxim De Cuyper, Villa’s stand-in keeper flapped at Ferdi Kadioglu’s inswinging delivery from the left, allowing Van Hecke to prod home at the back post.