The Aston Villa vs Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. standings picture shifted on the night of February 11, 2026, when an 86th-minute own goal from Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood handed the hosts a 1-0 victory at Villa Park.
It was a result built more on fortune than quality, but three points that moved Unai Emery’s side five clear of the Champions League places and temporarily back within striking distance of the title race.
A Scrappy Night Decided by a Corner
Neither side had much to show for 85 minutes of football.
Aston Villa made two changes, with Lamare Bogarde coming in for the injured Matty Cash and Ian Maatsen replacing Lucas Digne.
Brighton made five changes, with Jack Hinshelwood, Joel Veltman, Jan Paul van Hecke, Danny Welbeck, and Diego Gomez all coming in.
The most notable moment of the first half was not a chance created but a substitution.
Carlos Baleba picked up an early booking in the second minute and Fabian Hurzeler took no chances, withdrawing him in the 22nd minute for James Milner, who moved level with Gareth Barry on 653 Premier League appearances.
Villa created very little, with Morgan Rogers testing Bart Verbruggen from a tight angle and Emiliano Buendia flashing a deflected effort just wide on the stroke of half-time.
Brighton improved after the break and came closest to breaking the deadlock.
Ferdi Kadioglu’s dipping long-range drive forced Emiliano Martinez into a stunning save, tipping the ball onto the crossbar.
Kaoru Mitoma also curled an effort not far off target.
The winner came from a set piece in the 86th minute when substitute Leon Bailey swung in a corner, Tyrone Mings rose to meet it, and the ball struck Hinshelwood before rolling past a helpless Verbruggen.
Starting Lineups
| Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) | Brighton (4-3-3) |
|---|---|
| Emiliano Martinez | Bart Verbruggen |
| Lamare Bogarde | Joel Veltman |
| Ezri Konsa | Jan Paul van Hecke |
| Tyrone Mings | Lewis Dunk |
| Ian Maatsen | Ferdi Kadioglu |
| Amadou Onana | Jack Hinshelwood |
| Douglas Luiz | Carlos Baleba (sub’d 22′) |
| Jadon Sancho | Pascal Gross |
| Emiliano Buendia | Diego Gomez |
| Morgan Rogers | Danny Welbeck |
| Ollie Watkins | Kaoru Mitoma |
Match Stats
| Stat | Aston Villa | Brighton |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 1 | 0 |
| Possession | 49.7% | 50.3% |
| Total Shots | 15 | 9 |
| Shots on Target | 1 | 3 |
| xG | 0.67 | 0.50 |
| Corner Kicks | 7 | 5 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 3 |
| Saves | 3 | 2 |
| Attendance | 39,495 | — |
What the Result Means in the Table
The win took Villa to 50 points, fifth clear of Manchester United in fourth.
Brighton’s defeat extended their winless Premier League run to 13 matches.
It was Aston Villa’s third place in the table consolidated, coming off the back of consecutive home defeats to Everton and Brentford that had rattled confidence at Villa Park.
Manager Unai Emery said after the game that the three points were vital for recovering confidence, even if the performance had left plenty to be desired.
Brighton remain deep in an inconsistent stretch that has undermined what had been a promising start to the season.
2025-26 Premier League Standings (as of March 22, 2026)
| Pos | Team | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 21 | 7 | 3 | +39 | 70 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 18 | 7 | 5 | +32 | 61 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 15 | 10 | 6 | +13 | 55 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 15 | 6 | 9 | +3 | 51 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 14 | 7 | 10 | +8 | 49 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 13 | 9 | 9 | +15 | 48 |
| 7 | Brentford | 13 | 7 | 11 | +4 | 46 |
| 8 | Everton | 13 | 7 | 11 | +2 | 46 |
| 9 | Fulham | 13 | 5 | 13 | -1 | 44 |
| 10 | Brighton | 11 | 10 | 10 | +4 | 43 |
| 11 | Newcastle United | 12 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 42 |
| 12 | Bournemouth | 9 | 15 | 7 | -2 | 42 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 10 | 10 | 10 | -5 | 40 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 10 | 9 | 11 | -2 | 39 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 7 | 12 | 12 | -11 | 33 |
| 16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | 8 | 15 | -7 | 30 |
| 17 | Nottingham Forest | 7 | 8 | 15 | -15 | 29 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 7 | 8 | 15 | -19 | 29 |
| 19 | Burnley | 4 | 8 | 19 | -28 | 20 |
Arsenal remain nine points clear at the top with a title charge that looks increasingly difficult to stop.
Villa’s win kept them firmly in third, with the gap to the top four looking secure heading into the final months of the season.
For Brighton, the priority is arresting a run of form that has cost them significantly in the table.
