Ninth hosts 10th in the Premier League this Monday when Brighton & Hove Albion travel north to face Aston Villa . The visitors will be reeling from a bruising defeat on Boxing Day, while Brighton's lengthy winless run continued in frustrating fashion a day later. © Imago Villa were resoundingly beaten 3-0 away to Newcastle United last time out, but it was a game shrouded in controversy, when Jhon Duran was sent off in the first half for an alleged stamp on Fabian Schar .
Unai Emery was critical of referee Anthony Taylor for not taking his time over the decision, or even having another look with VAR, on an afternoon where his Villa side were unable to recover, and were comfortably put to the sword. That was Villa's fifth successive Premier League away defeat, with form at Villa Park the only thing keeping them in the hunt for the Champions League places. A 2-0 loss to Arsenal in August is the only defeat Villa have suffered at home in 14 matches, and the last three have all ended in victory.
It is also rare for them to lose back-to-back games in the Premier League, considering it has only happened once in 18 months, and if they want to close the gap on those above them, they must ensure it does not happen here. Villa are down in ninth, but are just one point off Newcastle in fifth, a position that could seal Champions League qualification depending on the nation's coefficient at the end of the season. Brighton are one place further back in 10th and will hope for much better f.
