Key Takeaways:
- Aston Villa secured a 1-0 home victory over Brighton, returning to winning form after two poor results
- James Milner matched Gareth Barry’s record with his 653rd Premier League appearance on Saturday
- Jack Hinshelwood’s 86th-minute own goal proved decisive in a closely contested encounter
Match Analysis
Aston Villa halted their run of disappointing performances by earning a narrow 1-0 win against Brighton at Villa Park. The contest, which remained goalless until late on, was ultimately settled by Jack Hinshelwood’s own goal in the 86th minute, handing the home side all three points.
Unai Emery’s men faced considerable pressure, particularly after half time, as Brighton applied sustained dominance. Despite being on the back foot for much of the second period, Villa managed to withstand Brighton’s attacking threat and capitalised when a strike from Tyrone Mings was inadvertently diverted past the keeper by Hinshelwood.
Back to winning ways at Villa Park ✚ 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/BvqYglc9Sh
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 11, 2026
Player Performance and Milner’s Historic Achievement
The match witnessed a significant milestone as James Milner, who replaced a teammate in the 22nd minute, played his 653rd Premier League match, thus drawing level with Gareth Barry for the most appearances in league history. Milner nearly made his mark in the second half, forcing Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez into a save.
Earlier in the match, Martínez also produced a crucial save, tipping a shot from Kadioglu onto the post to maintain parity. Despite valiant efforts, Brighton could not translate their dominance into goals and ultimately fell to a late own goal.
| Fixture | Score | Goal Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa v Brighton | 1-0 | Jack Hinshelwood (own goal, 86’) |
