Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has revealed he was left "a little bit shocked" by a key decision during his side's dramatic 4-3 Premier League victory away at Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night.
Controversy Amidst the Comeback
The Spaniard suggested the corner that led to Brighton's opening goal at the Amex Stadium should not have been awarded. His team found themselves 2-0 down in the first half before mounting an impressive fightback. Ollie Watkins scored twice, with midfielder Amadou Onana and attacker Donyell Malen also on target in a thrilling encounter in Sussex.
"Maybe their first goal wasn't a corner but we conceded one goal," Emery stated post-match. "When we were, more or less, a little bit shocked they scored the second goal and we needed to react."
Praise for Players and Supporters
Emery was full of admiration for how his squad responded to the adversity. "How we reacted, how we didn't give up after the first and second goals was fantastic," he said. He described the first-half comeback as "fantastic" and acknowledged the match remained "very tough" throughout the second period.
The manager also reserved special praise for the travelling Villa supporters who made the midweek journey from Birmingham for the 7:30pm kick-off. "I'm very thankful for our supporters," Emery said. "They are very important because the players felt it, how they were pushing and helping us. It gives us a lot of motivation."
Villa's Champions League Charge Continues
The vital three points solidify Aston Villa's impressive standing in the Premier League table. After 14 fixtures, Emery's side are in 3rd place, sitting inside the coveted top four alongside Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea as they aim to secure a return to the UEFA Champions League this season.
The victory sets up a blockbuster clash with league leaders Arsenal at Villa Park this Saturday. Watkins, who ended a relative dry spell with his brace against Brighton, will be aiming to continue his scoring form against the title-chasing Gunners.
With the January transfer window approaching, Villa may look to strengthen their squad to maintain this rich vein of form and add depth, particularly in attack to support Watkins.
