On This Day
A booking in the first few minutes, Baleba was heading for an early bath before being subbed off with barely 20 minutes on the clock. Ten minutes later, Villa had already clocked up 9 attempts to Brightonโs 1. Veltman is booked, Milner avoids a nailed-on caution before van Hecke goes in late on Emi Martรญnez, sparking a melee and another Brighton booking. Shades of Brentford here, but at least they havenโt fluked a goal before half-time. And we havenโt lost anyone to a first-half injury.
Brighton had only their second attack in the final seconds of the first half, but opened the second with a chance before Rogers needlessly went into the book with Villa looking ragged. In truth, despite having plenty of play, Villa donโt look like scoring, but Brighton do as a fortuitous ball finds its way back to them, and Martรญnez has to tip the shot onto the bar. Unarguably, Brighton competed the second half in ascendancy. Still, Villa found a way and came away with the three points the night demanded, despite it being comfortably the poorest performance of their recent home blips.
Tyrone Mings ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ makes his 200th appearance for Villa.
Tyrone Mings ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ makes his 60th appearance under Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ
Tyrone Mings ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ makes his 160th Premier League start for Villa.
Alysson ๐ง๐ท makes his first squad appearance for Villa since signing from Grรชmio ๐ง๐ท in January.
Alysson ๐ง๐ท becomes the 1,019th player to play League or Cup football for the Villa first team.
Lamare Bogarde ๐ณ๐ฑ makes his 25th start for Villa in 47 appearances.
Emiliano Buendรญa ๐ฆ๐ท makes his 75th start for Villa.
Emiliano Buendรญa ๐ฆ๐ท makes his 80th appearance under Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ
Jadon Sancho ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ makes his 15th Premier League appearance for Villa.
Emiliano Martรญnez ๐ฆ๐ท wins his 85th game in 149 appearances under Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ
Tammy Abraham ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ wins his 20th game for Villa in 43 appearances.
Leon Bailey ๐ฏ๐ฒ wins his 70th game for Villa in 148 appearances.
Unai Emery's ๐ช๐ธ on the cusp of his 100th win for Villa
Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ makes it 130 unbeaten games in the 176 he has led Villa.
Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ Highest Win percentage achieved across all competitions: 56.25%
Closest Rival: 1886-26 George Ramsay ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Management Committee 49.55%
1982-84 Tony Barton ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Highest Home Win percentage achieved across all competitions: 70.59%
Closest Rival: Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ 67.05%
Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ Highest Away Win percentage achieved across all competitions: 45.98%
Closest Rival: 2006-10 Martin O'Neill ๐ฌ๐ง 40.63%
Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ Highest Premier League Win percentage achieved 54.33%
Closes Rival: 1998-02 John Gregory ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ 41.22%
Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ Highest League Win percentage achieved 54.33%
Closest Rival: 1886-26 George Ramsay ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Management Committee 48.14%
Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ Highest Top Flight League Win percentage achieved 54.33%
Closest Rival: 1886-26 George Ramsay ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Management Committee 48.14%
1886-26 George Ramsay ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Management Committee Highest FA Cup Win percentage achieved, leading the club 5 or more times in the competition, 62.50%
Closest Rival: Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ 60.00%
Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ Highest European Win percentage achieved, leading the club 5 or more times in European competition 66.67%
Closest Rival: 1974-82 Ron Saunders | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | 50.00%
Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ Highest European Cup / Champions League Win percentage achieved, leading the club 5 or more times in the competition, 66.67%
Closest Rival: 1982-84 Tony Barton ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ 54.55%
Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ Lowest Loss percentage suffered across all competitions 26.01%
Closest Rival: 2006-10 Martin O'Neill ๐ฌ๐ง 26.32%
1958-64 Joe Mercer ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Highest Post War Average Goals per Game Scored across all competitions 1.73
Closest Rival: Unai Emery ๐ช๐ธ 1.70
GK Emiliano Martรญnez ๐ฆ๐ท ๐จ
DM Lamare Bogarde ๐ณ๐ฑ
CB Tyrone Mings ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
CB Ezri Konsa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
LB Ian Maatsen ๐ณ๐ฑ
DM Amadou Onana ๐ง๐ช
AM Emiliano Buendรญa ๐ฆ๐ท ๐
M Douglas Luiz ๐ง๐ท
AM Morgan Rogers ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
LW Jadon Sancho ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ ๐
CF Ollie Watkins ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Unai Emery | ๐ช๐ธ | 2022-

Substitutes
๐ RW Leon Bailey ๐ฏ๐ฒ for LW Jadon Sancho ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ 60โ
๐ CM Ross Barkley ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ for AM Emiliano Buendรญa ๐ฆ๐ท 60โ
Unused Substitutes
GK Marco Bizot ๐ณ๐ฑ
GK James Wright ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
CB Victor Lindelรถf ๐ธ๐ช
CB Pau Torres ๐ช๐ธ
LB Lucas Digne ๐ซ๐ท
RW Alysson ๐ง๐ท
CF Tammy Abraham ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
๐จ Emiliano Martรญnez (26)
๐จ Morgan Rogers, Bad Foul (24)
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
None
Trophy Record
European Cup / Champions League: ๐
League Champions: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
League Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐
Last Trophy: 1995-96
Matchday Squad
Goalkeepers
GK Emiliano Martรญnez ๐ฆ๐ท โฌ17.40m | 33 |
GK Marco Bizot ๐ณ๐ฑ Free | 34 |
GK James Wright ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 21 |
Defenders
CB Pau Torres ๐ช๐ธ โฌ33.00m | 29 |
CB Tyrone Mings ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ22.30m | 32 |
CB Ezri Konsa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ13.30m | 28 |
CB Victor Lindelรถf ๐ธ๐ช Free | 31 |
Full Backs
LB Ian Maatsen ๐ณ๐ฑ โฌ44.50m | 23 |
LB Lucas Digne ๐ซ๐ท โฌ30.00m | 32 |
Midfielders
DM Amadou Onana ๐ง๐ช โฌ59.35m | 24 |
AM Emiliano Buendรญa ๐ฆ๐ท โฌ38.40m | 29 |
AM Morgan Rogers ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ9.40m | 23 |
CM Ross Barkley ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ5.90m | 32 |
DM Lamare Bogarde ๐ณ๐ฑ Youth | 22 |
M Douglas Luiz ๐ง๐ท Loan | 27 |
Wingers
RW Leon Bailey ๐ฏ๐ฒ โฌ32.00m | 28 |
RW Alysson ๐ง๐ท โฌ10.00m | 19 |
LW Jadon Sancho ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Loan | 25 |
Forwards
CF Ollie Watkins ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ34.00m | 30 |
CF Tammy Abraham ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ21.00m | 28 |
Unavailable
โAs a coach, I have to adapt in everything, but we have enough players, and we have other centre-midfielders.โ
Injury | 5 |
RW Alysson ๐ง๐ท
Injury: Unknown
Absent since: n/a
Matches missed to date: n/a
Update: 6 Feb 2026: โAlysson is coming back progressively.โ
Expected return: 21 Feb 2026
DM Boubacar Kamara ๐ซ๐ท
Injury: Knee
Absent since: 18 Jan 26
Matches missed to date: 6
Update: 28 Jan 2026: "Kamara, he had surgery. He had it, and he's going to be out for the rest of the season.โ
Expected return: 2026-27 Season
CM John McGinn ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
Injury: Unknown
Absent since: 21 Jan 26
Matches missed to date: 5
Update: 28 Jan 2026: โMcGinn, more or less, is 6-8 weeks out.โ
Expected return: 11 Apr 2026
RB Andrรฉs Garcรญa ๐ช๐ธ
Injury: Hamstring
Absent since: 25 Jan 26
Matches missed to date: 4
Update: 28 Jan 2026: "Andres Garcรญa is out for three weeks. He has a hamstring injury, a small injury.โ
Expected return: 21 Feb 2026
CM Youri Tielemans ๐ง๐ช
Injury: Ankle
Absent since: 29 Jan 26
Matches missed to date: 3
Update: 28 Jan 2026: โTielemans is 8-10 weeks out. It was his ankle.โ
Expected return: 18 Apr 2026
Other | 3 |
1. CF Louie Barryย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ returned from loan with an injury.
2. CF Zรฉpiqueno Redmondย ๐ณ๐ฑ returned from loan with an injury.
3. GK Sam Lewis ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ returned from loan with an injury.
Out on Loan | 26 |
1. Josh Feeneyย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 20 | Huddersfield Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
2. Kosta Nedeljkovicย ๐ท๐ธ โฌ7.60m | 20 | RB Leipzig ๐ฉ๐ช
3. Oliwier Zychย ๐ต๐ฑ Youth | 21 | Rakรณw Czฤstochowa ๐ต๐ฑ
4. Tommi O'Reillyย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 22 | Crewe Alexandra ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
5. Enzo Barrenecheaย ๐ฆ๐ท โฌ8.00m | 24 | Benfica ๐ต๐น
6. Joe Gauciย ๐ฆ๐บ โฌ1.50m | 25 | Port Vale ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
7. Lewis Dobbinย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ11.80m | 23 | Preston North End ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
8. Ewan Simpsonย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ โฌ290k | 19 | Hamilton Academical ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
9. Triston Roweย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 19 | FC Annecy ๐ซ๐ท
10. Thierry Katsukunyaย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ Youth | 20 | Real Uniรณn ๐ช๐ธ
11. Max Lottย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 18 | Stratford Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
12. Sil Swinkelsย ๐ณ๐ฑ Youth | 22 | Chesterfield ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
13. Aidan Borlandย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Youth | 18 | Swindon Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
14. Ashton McWilliams ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 18 | Morecambe ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
15. Kane Taylor ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 20 | Oldham ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
16. Donyell Malen | ๐ณ๐ฑ | โฌ25.00m | 26 | AS Roma ๐ฎ๐น
17. Charlie Pavey ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 18 | Hereford ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
18. Yasin รzcanย ๐น๐ท โฌ7.00m | 19 | Besiktas ๐น๐ท
19. Evann Guessand ๐จ๐ฎ โฌ30.00m | 24 | Crystal Palace ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
20. Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 19 | West Bromwich Albion ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
21. Ben Broggio ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 19 | Falkirk ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
22. Louie Barry ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ1.00m | 22 | Stockport County ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
23. Samuel Iling-Juniorย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ14.00m | 22 | Pisa Sporting Club ๐ฎ๐น
24. Kadan Young ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 20 | Reading ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
25. Lino Sousa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Free | 21 | Rotherham United ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
26. CF Rory Wilson ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ โฌ440k | 20 | Sturm Graz ๐ฆ๐น
Team News
Team Stats
Debut Appearances
None
Final Appearances
None
Starting XI
Substitutes
Scorer(s): Jack Hinshelwood o.g. | 86' |
Assist(s): None
Match Timeline
[๐จ] 2โ Booking, (Brighton & Hove Albion), Carlos Baleba, Bad Foul
๐ฅ 22โ Taken off before heโs sent off, Carlos Baleba is substituted
[๐จ] 23โ Booking, (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joรซl Veltman, Bad Foul
๐ฅ 40โ Jan Paul van Hecke goes in late on Emiliano Martรญnez, sparking a melee
[๐จ] 41โ Booking, (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jan Paul van Hecke, Bad Foul
๐จ 41โ Booking, Emiliano Martรญnez, Retaliation
๐ 45โ+4 HT Aston Villa 0-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
๐จ 50โ Booking, Morgan Rogers, Bad Foul
๐ชต 54โ Emiliano Martรญnez saves onto the crossbar
๐ 60โ Sub off, Jadan Sancho, Sub on, Leon Bailey
๐ 60โ Sub off, Emiliano Buendรญa, Sub on, Ross Barkley
๐ 74โ Sub off, Ollie Watkins, Sub on, Alysson ๐ข
๐ 75โ Sub off, Amadou Onana, Sub on, Tammy Abraham ๐ข
๐ 84โ Sub off, Douglas Luiz, Sub on, Victor Lindelรถf
โฝ 86โ Goal! 1-0, Jack Hinshelwood o.g.
๐ 90โ+7 FT Aston Villa 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Season: 2025-26
Matchday: #36
League Game: #26
Manager Game: #176
Date: Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Attendance: 39,495
Match Record
Game Record
Manager: Unai Emery | ๐ช๐ธ | Hondarribia, 2022-
Referee: Peter Bankes | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Liverpool, 2016-
Kick off: 7.30 pm
HT Score: ๐จ 0-0
FT Result: ๐ฉ Won
FT Score: ๐ฉ 1-0
Last 5: ๐ฉ ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐จ
Officials
Referee: Peter Bankes | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Liverpool, 2016-
Assistants: Edward Smart, Blake Antrobus
Fourth official: Sam Allison
VAR: Tony Harrington | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Cleveland, 2022-
Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis
Referee: Peter Bankes | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Liverpool, 2016-
๐ 25 | ๐ฉ W11 | ๐จ D5 | ๐ฅ L9 |
๐ 25 | ๐ฉ 44% | ๐จ 20% | ๐ฅ 36% |
Cards ๐จ 44 | ๐ฅ 2 | 1.84 |
Opposition Cards ๐จ 61 | ๐ฅ 2 | 2.52 |
Penalty โฝ 4 | ๐ฅ
3 |
Last 5: ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐ฉ ๐ฉ ๐ฉ
VAR: Tony Harrington | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Cleveland, 2022-
๐ 8 | ๐ฉ W3 | ๐จ D2 | ๐ฅ L3 |
๐ 8 | ๐ฉ 38% | ๐จ 24% | ๐ฅ 38% |
Cards ๐จ 24 | ๐ฅ 0 | 3.00 |
Opposition Cards ๐จ 19 | ๐ฅ 0 | 2.38 |
Penalty โฝ 1 | ๐ฅ
0 |
Last 5: ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐ฉ ๐จ ๐จ
Match Stats
Villa Possession 50%
Opposition Possession 50%
Villa Shots 15
Opposition Shots 9
Villa Shots on Target 1
Opposition Shots on Target 3
Villa Shots off Target 10
Opposition Shots off Target 5
Villa Touches in Box 32
Opposition Touches in Box 24
Villa Fouls 9
Opposition Fouls 15
Villa Corners 7
Opposition Corners 5
Villa Saves 3
Opposition Saves 2
Unai Emery | ๐ช๐ธ | 2022-
๐ 176 | ๐ฉ | 99 ๐จ | 31 ๐ฅ 46 | 1.86
Villa Career Form:
Top 4
What they Said
โNot yet (not decided). But heโs a fantastic player.
"He will need another contract, and maybe it could be here. In case heโs playing his best football, we will want him. Maybe other teams could be involved in the interest for him.
โThe first part of the season was not enough. He was working, he was trying, but he was not achieving the performances needed. I spoke to him a few times about the challenge he has, and he must be very demanding in himself, like he is now.
"Thereโs no time to wait for anyone. We need everyone to be focused, with their qualities and preparation, to play helping the team. We believed in him at the start of the season, we believed in him in December, and we believe in him now, and I believe heโs getting better.โ
Unai Emery on Jadon Sancho.
โWe are not thinking (about) the end of the season, we are thinking now.
โWe can speak about how we were in September, and we are enjoying. We are enjoying the process, we are competing, and we are feeling comfortable with how we are doing our season.
โUp and down sometimes, but more up than down, we were a lot of matches in a row winning.
โNow, we had two defeats at home, and can understand something can happen. We analyse with the players, we analyse those matches, and of course, we are trying to avoid some mistakes we did, or some circumstances we had.
โBut now, I am positive. The players as well, they are working very well every day. They played a fantastic game on Saturday, competing fantastic in Bournemouth, and tomorrow, we have a new challenge.
โThe challenge at home in Villa Park, of course, is to try to get our full energy, our full wishes, and our focus to prepare the game as better as possible, and to compete against a very good team, and play in Villa Park with our supporters, always is something very, very special for us to play there.โ
Unai Emery, pre-match.
โThey [Brighton] are competing fantastic. They have less points than they deserve, clearly.
โWatching them playing, watching how they are playing, I like a lot, because I think they are being consistent in their style, and itโs a team playing good football in combination. Itโs a team playing intense and very good press to the opponent.
โThey lost some points, but like in Fulham, when they were winning 1-0, they lost 2-1, but they deserved more. They drew against Manchester City away, and they deserved more. They competed fantastic at home against Crystal Palace, but they lost.
โI think they are a team, really playing good football, fantastic football, and tomorrow, they are going to play like they are. We will need tomorrow to get our strong structure defensively, stopping them.
โThey are going to play in combination, they have as well very good wingers, they have as well two very good strikers. They can play long ball second action, but they are playing more in combination with (Pascal) Groร.
โGroร gives them a lot, because heโs a very intelligent player, and his comeback for them is fantastic.
โ(Carlos) Baleba is so strong in the middle. Diego Gรณmez is so competitive. They have experienced players. (Lewis) Dunk is a fantastic central defender.
โThe goalkeeper plays very good in combination with the ball. And defensively, they are being so intense and getting a lot of duels man-to-man. Everything I am speaking about, we are going to face tomorrow.โ
โI think heโs doing very good work. How he did in Germany, and now, in Brighton for two years, I think, how they are playing, is really something I appreciate a lot.
โThey are very competitive, and playing good football. When you can watch one match of Brighton, you are watching a match, you are enjoying, because they have good structure tactically, they play good ideas with a style playing, and they have very good players as well, and I like it.
โI think he has a really huge future as well as a coach, and of course, to be in England at 32 years old is a privilege for him as well, to get his career.
โBut I respect him a lot, and I really like how they are playing, and tomorrow, I know, itโs a tough, tough match for us.โ
Unai Emery on Brighton.
โFrom when I arrived, weโve been on such an amazing journey.
โTo be here now, it feels like we deserve to be here โ itโs not the first season weโve been challenging for the top four.
โIncremental progress and incremental improvement is what weโre after. Everyone knows the financial benefits of getting in the Champions League and the rewards that has for the club.โ
Tyrone Mings
โVery important here with our supporters.
โWe recovered a little bit the energy we needed, but thereโs still work to do to recover more โ more for us, for the supporters.
โAnd, of course, we are with 50 points, and today, how we achieved those three points, really is fantastic.
โTough match, difficult match. The last two matches at home in Premier League, we lost.
โToday was very important to try to compete, to try to recover our mood individually and collectively, energy, winning of course is helping us.
โAnd, of course, keep going. And today, one step forward during the season, really, we needed it.
โIt was equal, the match, but I think we got more in their box, and we were creating some corners as well offensively.
โWe started well, we had two chances with Morgan. More or less, the expectation I had before the match was in the plan.
โAnd then, we planned 90 minutes because how we could manage the match, how they were as well managing the match, it was very, very important to be resilient in 90 minutes, and as well to try to be passionate when we were not dominating.
โMore or less, we dominated sometimes, they dominated sometimes as well, but how are were working as well set-pieces and how we scored through Tyrone Mings is very important โ another way we are adding.
โAnd then, 50 points. Of course, happy today, and try to recover our energy, try to recover our good form, try to recover confidence. Today was really very important, those three points, for it.โ
Unai Emery, post match.
"We all know we didn't deserve to lose. We deserved so much more. In games like this, the team that scores first wins. Villa did it out of nowhere with a set-piece. I feel sorry for the supporters."
Fabian Hurzeler
โEverything we do is for the fans.
โWeโre only here for a short amount of time, so we respect the fansโ expectations, and their expectations are very high playing for this football club, and so they should be.
โIf we can send them home happy more often than not, weโre doing our jobs.
โI said before the game that Brighton is a team that deserves more points than they have; theyโre a fantastic football team.
โThey caused Manchester City a lot of problems, they cause every team problems, and from the clips we watched, we knew it would be a difficult game.
โHere, we havenโt been the best in recent weeks, so it was important to get back to making this a tough place to come. Usually, that starts with being hard to beat and seeing what happens at the other end.
โIt didnโt look like much was going to happen at the other end because theyโre a good defensive team, and any team you go and play against in this league is so difficult.โ
Tyrone Mings
"The Premier League is crazy, you never know what can happen. We are taking everything one step at a time. The Champions League places is where we want to be.
"It was well-needed that win, it has been tough the last few games at home. Tonight we had to get the victory, regardless of how we got it.
"Mings said to me to go for the front post, but I was already going to do that! It was great that we got the goal from it.
"Tyrone Mings is massive for us, I have been with him for five years and everyone can see his commitment to the club. He is so important to this team, we can all see it.โ
Leon Bailey
"Games are so tight, if it was 1-0 to them, everyone would say we were rubbish, but fortunately we got the right result tonight."
Tyrone Mings.
GK Bart Verbruggen ๐ณ๐ฑ
LB Ferdi Kadฤฑoฤlu ๐น๐ท
CB Jan Paul van Hecke ๐ณ๐ฑ ๐จ ๐
CB Lewis Dunk ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
RB Joรซl Veltman ๐ณ๐ฑ ๐จ
M Jack Hinshelwood ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
M Carlos Baleba ๐จ๐ฒ ๐จ ๐
M Pascal Groร ๐ท๐ด
M Diego Gรณmez ๐ต๐พ ๐
W Kaoru Mitoma ๐ฏ๐ต ๐
CF Danny Welbeck ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ ๐
Fabian Hรผrzeler | ๐ฉ๐ช |
Substitutes
๐ M James Milner (ex) ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ for M Carlos Baleba ๐จ๐ฒ 22โ
๐ CB Olivier Boscagli ๐ซ๐ท for CB Jan Paul van Hecke ๐ณ๐ฑ 61โ
๐ W Yankuba Minteh ๐ฌ๐ฒ for W Kaoru Mitoma ๐ฏ๐ต 81โ
๐ CF Charalampos Kostoulas ๐ฌ๐ท for CF Danny Welbeck ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ 81โ
๐ M Harry Howell ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ for M Diego Gรณmez ๐ต๐พ 81โ
Unused Substitutes
GK Jason Steele ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
LB Maxim De Cuyper ๐ง๐ช
M Matt Oโ Riley ๐ฉ๐ฐ
CF Georginio Rutter ๐ซ๐ท
Yellow Cards (Warnings, Cautions, Bookings)
๐จ Carlos Baleba
๐จ Joรซl Veltman
๐จ Jan Paul van Hecke
Red Cards (Ordered from Field of Play, Dismissals, Sendings Off)
None
Opposition Trophy Record
European Cup / Champions League: โ
League Champions: โ
FA Cup Winners: โ
League Cup Winners: โ
Last Trophy: โ
Opposition Matchday Squad
Goalkeepers
GK Bart Verbruggen ๐ณ๐ฑ โฌ20.00m | 23 |
GK Jason Steele ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Free | 35 |
Defenders
CB Jan Paul van Hecke ๐ณ๐ฑ โฌ2.00m | 25 |
CB Lewis Dunk ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 34 |
CB Olivier Boscagli ๐ซ๐ท Free | 28 |
Full Backs
LB Ferdi Kadฤฑoฤlu ๐น๐ท โฌ30.00m | 26 |
LB Maxim De Cuyper ๐ง๐ช โฌ20.00m | 25 |
RB Joรซl Veltman ๐ณ๐ฑ โฌ1.00m | 34 |
Midfielders
M Matt Oโ Riley ๐ฉ๐ฐ โฌ29.50m | 25 |
M Carlos Baleba ๐จ๐ฒ โฌ27.00m | 22 |
M Diego Gรณmez ๐ต๐พ โฌ13.00m | 22 |
๐ M Pascal Groร ๐ท๐ด โฌ2.00m | 34 |
M James Milner (ex) ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Free | 40 |
M Harry Howell ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 17 |
M Jack Hinshelwood ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 20 |
Wingers
W Yankuba Minteh ๐ฌ๐ฒ โฌ38.80m | 21 |
W Kaoru Mitoma ๐ฏ๐ต โฌ3.00m | 28 |
Forwards
CF Georginio Rutter ๐ซ๐ท โฌ46.70m | 23 |
CF Charalampos Kostoulas ๐ฌ๐ท โฌ40.00m | 18 |
CF Danny Welbeck ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Free | 35 |
Opposition Unavailable
Injury | 5 |
1. CB Adam Webster ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ22.22m | 31 |
2. M Mats Wieffer ๐ณ๐ฑ โฌ30.00m | 26 |
3. M Yasin Ayari ๐ธ๐ช โฌ4.00m | 22 |
4. W Solly March ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ5k | 31 |
5. CF Stefanos Tzimas ๐ฌ๐ท โฌ25.00m | 20 |
Out on Loan | 14 |
1. GK Carl Rushworth | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free | 24 | ๐ฑCoventry
2. GK James Beadle | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free | 21 | ๐ฑBirmingham
3. CB Eiran Cashin | ๐ฎ๐ช | โฌ10.75m | 23 | ๐ฑBlackburn
4. M Malick Junior Yalcouyรฉ | ๐จ๐ฎ | โฌ7.00m | 20 | ๐ฑSwansea
5. M Facundo Buonanotte | ๐ฆ๐ท | โฌ6.00m | 21 | ๐ฑLeeds
6. W Ibrahim Osman | ๐ฌ๐ญ | โฌ19.50m | 21 | ๐ฑ Birmingham
7. W Do-young Yoon | ๐ฐ๐ท | โฌ2.00m | 19 | ๐ฑDordecht
8. W Jeremy Sarmiento | ๐ช๐จ | Free | 23 | ๐ฑMiddlesbrough
9. W Amario Cozier-Duberry | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Free | 20 | ๐ฑBolton
10. CF Mark OโMahony | ๐ฎ๐ช | โฌ50k | 20 | ๐ฑReading
11. CF Evan Ferguson | ๐ฎ๐ช | Free | 21 | ๐ฑRoma
12. W Tom Watson | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฌ12.00m | 19 | ๐ฑMillwall
13. CB Diego Coppola | ๐ฎ๐น | โฌ11.00m | 22 | ๐ฑParis FC
14. W Brajan Gruda | ๐ฉ๐ช | โฌ30.00m | 21 | ๐ฑRB Leipzig
League Table

2025-26
Playing Squad
Match Media


























