Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton: Points are shared at Villa Park as Seagulls strike late equaliser to deny hosts fourth straight home victory

Unai Emery waved goodbye to 2024 with an extraordinary blast at Premier League officials but the Aston Villa boss should save his anger for his wasteful team.

Villa should have been out of sight long before Tariq Lamptey equalised for Brighton nine minutes from time and this time Emery could blame nobody but the men in claret and blue in front of him.

After Simon Adingra had given the visitors the lead, goals either side of half-time from Ollie Watkins – a penalty – and Morgan Rogers should have set Villa up for three points. But they could not find the killer blow and Lamptey punished them.

Furious that Villa’s appeal against the red card shown to Jhon Duran at Newcastle on Boxing Day was dismissed, Emery had used his programme notes to launch an attack on referees’ chiefs – specifically, their use of VAR.

Emery believes VAR is being using too much to back the on-field officials rather than reach the correct decisions – though he might have changed his tune by half-time here. Referee Craig Pawson was advised by the team at Stockley Park to award Villa a penalty when Joao Pedro clattered Rogers as he tried to clear his lines.

Watkins, recalled for the suspended Duran, scored from the spot on his 29th and Rogers hit the second soon after the break. Fabian Hurzeler’s men managed somehow to hang in there and earned their reward in the end.

Brighton battled to earn a deserved point away at Aston Villa after facing 19 shots on target

Villa now lie ninth and missed the chance to move closer to the top four spots with a win

Unai Emery’s inconsistent side have won just four of their last 15 games in all competitions

Emery concluded his diatribe in the programme by saying he hoped nobody would be talking about refereeing decisions in this game. Anyone who read that would have known what was coming next.

With Brighton leading through Simon Adingra’s goal, Morgan Rogers demanded a spot-kick when he tumbled under Jan Paul van Hecke’s challenge from behind. Referee Craig Pawson signalled for a corner and VAR Stuart Attwell saw no reason to intervene, as Emery took out his frustration on fourth official Gavin Ward.

He did not have to wait long for a call to go in Villa’s favour. Bart Verbruggen flapped at the resulting corner and Joao Pedro kicked Rogers in the ankle as he tried to clear. This time VAR did step in and – encouraged from nearby by Emi Martinez – Pawson awarded a penalty after deliberating for two minutes.

Watkins sent Verbruggen the wrong way from 12 yards and appeared to be celebrating in pointed fashion, gesturing towards himself and then the pitch.

That was exactly what Villa needed after some dire defending had let in Albion. Ezri Konsa did not deal with Lewis Dunk’s ball over the top and was held off by Pedro, allowing Adingra to sneak past Pau Torres and beat Martinez with an angled effort.

Earlier, play was delayed for five minutes for a head wound to Pedro after he had clashed with Boubacar Kamara. Throw in the VAR stoppages, plus Torres’ early departure to injury, and Brighton had to survive 12 minutes’ added time at the end of the first half.

They managed to see it through, more because of Villa’s hasty finishing than their own strong defending. Watkins shot into the side netting and struck for goal when he should have fed John McGinn. Leon Bailey also found some excellent positions but could not deliver when he got there.

Rogers’ first-half booking for a foul on Carlos Baleba means he will be banned for Saturday’s meeting with Leicester – and the Villa man needed just 72 seconds of the second half to show his team what they will be missing.

The Seagulls led early but almost left empty-handed if it were not for Lamptey’s equaliser

Verbruggen was again exposed under the high ball and when Brighton could not clear, Kamara found Watkins. His clipped pass found the visitors’ defensive line wanting and Rogers controlled on his chest and drove Villa ahead.

The home side were finding space at will now as Brighton struggled to stay afloat. Bailey tricked his way past the hapless Igor Julio once more though failed to pick out a team mate, and Verbruggen pushed away Lucas Digne’s cross at full stretch. Watkins climbed well to meet Digne’s cross but planted his header too close to Verbruggen.

The introduction of Kaoru Mitoma gave Brighton a little more attacking threat but nor did the danger subside at the other end, with Youri Tielemans the latest to go close after a four-on-three counter-attack.

With only a one-goal lead, Villa were always vulnerable and Joao Pedro hammered a good chance over after Kamara had dawdled on the ball.

And the home side were punished for being so wasteful when Lamptey finished a fine move involving Mitoma and Pedro by hammering beyond Martinez from 16 yards.

Watkins had a final chance to seal it well into stoppage time but rushed his shot from a perfect spot inside the box.