AliousAston Villa will face off against Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium this Wednesday night, marking the resumption of their Premier League journey following a pause for international matches, alongside their obligations in the FA Cup and Champions League.
Brighton, who last played on Saturday night, took on Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarter-finals. The match stretched into a grueling two-hour stalemate, only to be resolved through a penalty shootout, where Forest triumphed, securing their spot at Wembley for next month’s semi-finals.
For Brighton, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, and their attention now shifts solely to the Premier League, starting with Villa’s visit midweek. However, their weekend woes may have deepened with injuries to two pivotal players, Adam Webster and Georginio Rutter, compounding their disappointment.
Webster, a central defender, suffered a thigh issue after the full-time whistle in regular play. He was later spotted with an ice pack strapped to his leg, having been subbed out for captain Lewis Dunk, who was returning after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Earlier in the game, a potentially graver concern arose when Rutter—Brighton’s summer signing from Leeds United—awkwardly twisted his ankle. The attacking midfielder was clearly distressed as medical staff assisted him off the pitch.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler addressed Rutter’s injury, noting that the player was seen boarding an ambulance outside the stadium. “He might need a scan, so I can’t comment further at this stage,” Hurzeler explained.
Speaking to the Argus about the team’s need to bounce back from the FA Cup exit ahead of Villa’s arrival, he said, “The priority now is to show resilience.
It’s fine to feel the sting of this defeat today, but tomorrow, we must lift our spirits, recover well, and turn our focus to the next test.
We’ve shown this season that we can regroup and stay united as a squad, and we need to demonstrate that once again.”
Alious
