2 weeks ago
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It is important to say that Aston Villa were not the only team here to have lost key players over the summer; to play under the threat of further departures; to be without others because of injury. It has been a testing time for the Brighton manager, Fabian Hürzeler, who has said goodbye to Danny Welbeck, Jan Paul van Hecke and James Milner, among others.
Hürzeler was without Carlos Baleba and Yankuba Minteh, officially because of injuries although their proposed moves to Manchester United and Liverpool, respectively, were surely a part of things. Kaoru Mitoma was out with a more cut-and-dried fitness issue.
Villa’s problems have been similar, if a little better documented. The sales of Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans. The ongoing uncertainty over Ollie Watkins, who is the subject of interest from Al Hilal and seemingly ready to leave. He was not a part of the match-day squad and with Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham injured, Unai Emery had no available centre-forward; he pressed Emiliano Buendía into emergency service in the position. Emiliano Martínez is also set to leave. The marquee signing, Johan Manzambi, is still not fit.
Only one club dealt with their problems. It was a red-letter day for Brighton, who began the season with a statement of intent; plenty of hard running and some ruthless finishing, too. Jack Hinshelwood led the way during what was a first-half onslaught, scoring twice while Maxim De Cuyper got one and put another in off the Villa defender, Victor Lindelöf.
It was a humbling for Villa. Their supporters wanted to remind everybody at kick-off time of how they had won the Europa League in May. They were left stunned by what followed – the four concessions before the interval and the knowledge that the damage could have been much worse. Their one piece of luck was that Brighton did not turn the screw in the secondhalf. Hürzeler’s men had done enough.
The symbol of Villa’s wretchedness was the new signing, João Gomes, who was passed fit after an injury concern but proceeded to get himself sent off for violent conduct in the 40th minute at 4-0. The debutant aimed a high boot at the Brighton striker, Georginio Rutter. Gomes might have been dismissed before that. He was horribly off the pace. Then again, he was not alone in Villa colours.
When it was all over, the Brighton celebrations exploding around the Amex Stadium, Emery beat a hasty retreat. There was no handshake for Hürzeler, only worry lines across his brow. There is so much for him to ponder.
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