Aston VillavsBrighton & Hove Albion
AVL 0/BHA 4
Things to say
Brighton hammered Aston Villa 4-0 at the Amex on opening weekend.
01
opener
Brighton absolutely paddled Villa 4-nil at the Amex. Four unanswered, clean sheet, never in doubt. Villa looked shambolic for a season opener.
02
key player
Lewis Dunk was everywhere at the back. 106 accurate passes and marshaled the whole clean sheet from center-half.
03
hot take
Bizot made three saves and STILL shipped four. Tells you everything about how open Villa left it.
04
deep cut
Boscagli put in nine defensive interventions. Villa managed three shots all match and barely tested him.
05
exit
Long season though, one game in. Curious to see if Villa bounce back next week.
The recap
Brighton opened the season with an absolute paddling, putting four past Aston Villa without reply at the Amex. Villa were shambolic from the off and never laid a glove on it, forcing just three saves out of Brighton and getting bossed all over the pitch.
Lewis Dunk was imperious at the back with a staggering 106 accurate passes and a clean sheet to match. Four-nil flatters no one but the winners, and Villa go home with plenty to sort out.