VILLA END POOR RUN AGAINST BRIGHTON

Former European champions Aston Villa were able to put an end to their poor run in the Premier League thanks to the home win over Brighton and Hove Albion. Villa got the new manager bounce with the appointment of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as their new manager and he masterminded the win over the Seagulls.

Aston Villa were struggling under Dean Smith before the club decided to call time on his managerial career with the team from the Midlands. Smith ended his reign with five straight league defeats on the back of an historic win at Old Trafford.

Villa beat Manchester United 1-0 away from home thanks to the second half header from Courtney Hause but they were unable to build on the impressive win. They lost five league games in a row after beating the Red Devils at the Theatre of Dreams starting with the 2-1 loss at North London team Tottenham Hotspur.

The most disappointing defeat from that five-match losing run came against rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers at home as they conceded three times in the last ten minutes to lose 3-2. Villa had taken a two-goal lead before they capitulated in the final minutes of the game.

Villa lost 3-1 at London team Arsenal to make it three defeats in a row. Another London club, West Ham United made it four defeats on the bounce with the 4-1 away victory in a game that Villa finished with ten men due to the second half sending off of EzriKonsa.

Dean Smith was in the dugout for his final game as the Aston Villa manager when Adam Armstrong scored in the third minute to lead Southampton to a 1-0 home win. It was the fifth straight defeat for Villa and club officials moved almost immediately to end the run with the appointment of ex-Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

Steven Gerrard started his reign as Villa manager on a good note as goals from The England national team duo of Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings gave Villla a 2-0 win over visitors Brighton.