Joao Pedro scored a last-minute goal after failing to convert a penalty, leading to Aston Villa’s setback in their pursuit of a top-four spot.

Aston Villa’s hopes of extending their lead over Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place were dashed as they suffered a late 1-0 defeat against Brighton. The match saw both teams have goals ruled out for offside, with Pascal Gross and John McGinn falling victim to the offside flag. Brighton eventually took the lead through Joao Pedro, who headed home from the rebound after initially missing a penalty.

The first half was evenly contested, with Brighton enjoying the better chances. Simon Adingra impressed with his sharpness, creating opportunities and testing Villa’s goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Olsen himself made some crucial saves, including a sensational stop just before half-time to deny Brighton their best chance of the game.

The second half saw Olsen called into action again, making a crucial save to deny Joao Pedro. Brighton had their chances as well, with Julio Enciso and Pascal Gross both coming close to scoring. However, both players were ruled offside by narrow margins.

In the final 10 minutes, Danny Welbeck had a chance to score for Brighton, but his header went wide. Adingra continued to trouble Villa’s defense and drew a foul in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty for Brighton. Pedro’s initial effort was saved by Olsen, but he reacted quickly to nod in the rebound and secure all three points for his team.

With the win, Brighton move closer to Bournemouth and West Ham in the table. They now have the opportunity to move into the top if they win their game in hand.

Aston Villa, on the other hand, remain seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, although Spurs have two games in hand.