AliousBrighton manager Fabian Hürzeler was left puzzled by the chorus of boos that followed his team’s 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium.
Villa, spearheaded by on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, took control early in the second half when Rashford netted in the 51st minute.
Late goals from substitutes Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen sealed a commanding victory for the visitors, who climbed above Brighton into seventh place while extending their winning streak to six matches in all competitions.
The loss was a bitter pill for the Seagulls, coming just days after their heartbreaking FA Cup quarter-final exit to Nottingham Forest on penalties. As the final whistle blew, frustrated Brighton supporters voiced their displeasure with loud jeers.
Hürzeler, however, was unsure of the target of the fans’ frustration. “I don’t know who the boos were for,” he admitted. “We always give everything on the pitch. Maybe they were reacting to something else, but all we can do is improve next time so they don’t feel the need to boo.”
The Brighton boss acknowledged that Rashford’s opener was a turning point. “That first goal really shifted the momentum,” he said. “Games like this can hinge on who scores first. If we had taken the lead, we might be talking about a completely different outcome.”
VAR interruptions further disrupted Brighton’s rhythm, with lengthy reviews—including one that ruled out an effort from Simon Adingra—adding to their frustrations.
“I think the officials got the decisions right,” Hürzeler conceded. “But these breaks in play make it tough. Staying calm is easier said than done when you’re emotionally invested in the game. When things keep going against you, you try to force moments, and sometimes we didn’t respond in the right way.”
Brighton will have an opportunity to bounce back this Saturday when they face arch-rivals Crystal Palace. Asked whether that fixture provides the perfect chance to respond, Hürzeler was emphatic: “Yes.”
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