Home remedy? Aston Villa v Brighton match preview and team news

Villa Park has lost its aura. The next Premier League fixture under the floodlights is a chance to get it back.

Two defeats in two home matches is unheard of at Aston Villa this season. Even when they were stinking the place out in the first six weeks of 2025/26, Villa were able to lean on their home form to lever themselves out of trouble.

Villa have been phenomenal at home under Unai Emery. That’s a fact, and it’s part of the reason why the recent losses against Everton and Brentford were so difficult to stomach. Without that robust assuredness of home, Villa aren’t the force they need to be.

They start this midweek programme of Premier League fixtures in a good position. Third place in the table after 25 matches isn’t to be sniffed at, especially if Champions League qualification is the stated target.

But the gaps between Villa and fourth, fifth and sixth have been shrinking as they’ve been navigating a mid-season flap. Midfield injuries are the obvious cause of that, but to paraphrase my pal Brickie Dave, you don’t get points for having players injured.