STEVEN GERRARD takes charge of Aston Villa for the first time against Brighton today.
The Liverpool legend Gerrard replaced Dean Smith, who was dismissed after the Villans lost five games on the bounce.
In front of him today is Brighton, who have failed to win in their six Prem games.
- Kick-off: 3pm GMT
- TV/ live stream: This match will not be broadcast live in the UK
Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
48 YELLOW CARD
Cucurella becomes the first player to get booked after tugging with Villa’s Buendia in midfield
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
47 WHAT A CHANCE!
Aston Villa come just a whisker away from an opener!
McGinn delivers another marvellous cross from a free-kick and finds Mings in the far post who jumps higher than anyone else and gets a header that Steel saves with his toes as he lunges to his bottom left corner!
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
46 No changes from either side as we kick off second half, but there are also no goals.
We’re not too bothered about substitutions, but we do want to see goals!
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND OFF WE GO AGAIN AT VILLA PARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STATS
Brighton have been dominating 60.5 per cent of possession so far in the match.
The Seagulls registered a total of three shots, two of which were on target thanks to Leandro Trossard and Tariq Lamptey’s efforts.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, produced two shots, one of which was on target.
The game has been quite intense with eight fouls being committed already, five of which went Villa’s way
HT: ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
Aston Villa and Brighton are goalless at Villa Park following a rather entertaining first half.
Villa have been looking good under new manager Steven Gerrard but the Seagulls had the best chances.
The visitors almost opened the scoring in the half-hour mark when Marc Cucurella’s ball was missed by Ezri Konsa and Leandro Trossard’s effort from a tight corner was palmed away by Emiliano Martinez.
Martinez needed to make another big save during stoppage time when Jakub Moder stole the ball down the left flank and delivered a cross that was ricocheted towards Tariq Lamptey in the far post but his effort was blocked by the Argentine
GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THAT HALF-TIME AT VILLA PARK!!!!!!!!!!
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
45+1 WHAT A CHANCE!
Brighton come close to an opener again!
Moder steals the ball down the left flank and delivers a brilliant cross that ricochets towards Lamptey in the far post.
But the defender’s shot is blocked by Martinez!
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
45 Two more minutes of stoppage time to go.
Neither team is convincing enough they can carve each other up before half-time
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
42 As we approach half-time, it would be a good idea for Brighton manager to find a way to contain McGinn.
The Villa midfielder’s crosses have been absolutely lethal and accurate so far
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
40 Mings tries a long-range shot, that goes nowhere…
That is the kind of stuff Gerrard doesn’t like to see, he wants some high-pressing football that is based on discipline and patience
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
38 Bissouma is proving why he received so much interest from top clubs last summer, such as Liverpool and Arsenal.
The midfielder is also showing why – in his mind – he is the best in the Premier League.
The Mali international won the ball twice during a dangerous Villa attack with some superb tackles from behind.
Bissouma really tried his luck there as the slightest mistake would have led to a free-kick from a promising position and a yellow card.
But he still pulled it off!
GETTY IMAGES ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
35 We are seeing quite an even match as we approach half-time.
But both teams are struggling to create substantial danger for either Martinez or Steele on opposite goal ends
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
33 Villa continue to dominate the ball but Trossard’s missed chance has given Brighton some newfound confidence.
The visitors are pressing high up on the pitch, something that is starting to limit the Villans’ movement
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
30 WHAT A CHANCE!
Brighton come extremely close to an opener, out of nowhere!
Cucurella delivers a superb ball from the left, which Konsa misses.
The ball reaches Trossard whose shot is palmed away by Martinez!
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
30 Villa have been very dangerous but lack that important final ball.
McGinn is causing a lot of problems to Brighton’s defence with his crosses but the front three are not close and that doesn’t allow them to find each other once they pick up those long balls.
Ings, Buendia and Watkins need to keep their lines together
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
29 CHANCE
Villa ace Buendia flicks the ball towards Ings in the box but the striker gets a heavy touch and Steele beats him to the ball by a hair
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
28 Gerrard knows he has a lot of work to do at Villa after replacing Smith.
Here’s what a major task today’s match actually is:
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
27 Referee wants Webster’s bleeding to be sorted as soon as possible.
Brighton physios are back in the pitch, the midfielder got that injury after Mings’ studs scratched his knee
GETTY IMAGES ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
25 There was nothing fake about Webster’s knock earlier on in the first few minutes.
The midfielder clashed with Mings and is currently bleeding from the knee
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
22 Brighton are proving to be dangerous on the counter-attack when Villa leave space behind.
Just now we saw Lallana opening up to Moder from the right and the forward finds Cucurella on the left.
The full-back delivers a dangerous ball in the area but the visitors’ strikers couldn’t get there in time
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
20 Villa’s full-backs Cash and Targett have been on fire, and McGinn has been especially dangerous with some lethal crosses in Brighton’s box.
Not much from the hosts’ record signing Buendia so far.
Brighton are still struggling to create opportunities or step inside the hosts’ area
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
18 Here’s how the two teams are playing today.
Villa are donning their signature claret shirts and Brighton are in blue and white
GETTY IMAGES ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
15 You can feel the excitement in the air at Villa Park.
The crowd is so lively and the players are really pushing for an opener, every single Villa player wants to win over Gerrard in his first match in charge.
Brighton are struggling to find space and create chances
ASTON VILLA 0-0 BRIGHTON
12 CHANCE!
Aston Villa come close to an opener, the hosts’ crosses from Targett, McGinn and Cash have been so lethal!
Targett delivers a ball from the left flank and finds Cash on the far post but his header is denied by Steele, who makes a big first save in his Premier League debut
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
