Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said there was a “disappointing” atmosphere in the dressing room after the Seagulls' goalless draw with Brentford.
Brighton failed to make their chances count on Friday, with an expected goals total (xG) of 1.31 from their 24 shots, although only seven were on target.
The stalemate dropped Brighton to 10th in the Premier League, and they are now without a win in their last six top-flight games after a strong start to the season.
A trip to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa is on the agenda for Hurzeler and his players, with the Seagulls head coach preaching positivity ahead of their visit to the West Midlands.
“No, I don't think so [it’s a good point]. It's a disappointing feeling. The atmosphere in the dressing room is not great. “But it is our responsibility, we have to learn to win these games,” Hurzeler said.
“It's about staying together and staying positive. There was a clean sheet today and we created chances. It's about getting the happiness back in the game and the consistency wasn't perfect.
“It's very important that we focus on ourselves and try to win games like this. In the Premier League you have to push your limits and always be at the highest level.”
“Maybe we missed this one sprint into the penalty area to finish the attack. But we have to stay positive and keep the energy and positivity that we had today and then the results will come.”
Villa, meanwhile, are still licking the wounds from their Boxing Day defeat to Newcastle United, a match decided by Jhon Duran's red card in the 32nd minute.
Although unintentional, his appeal against the decision was rejected by the Football Association, meaning Unai Emery will miss his top scorer for the next three games.
But the Villans boss is banking on his side's impressive home form to end 2024 on a high, acknowledging his players need to improve in certain areas to move forward.
“Yes, now Villa Park. Villa Park is the place where we also have to feel strong and comfortable in front of our supporters and stay consistent there,” Emery said.
“Of course three points won't come back every game, but we have to try to build the team, gradually get better and of course correct how we can still be competitive.
“But at home we have to keep trying to be consistent, just like in the last games, with our supporters. The competition, the standings, is very tight, with many teams with a few points.” [between each other].
“Of course it is a more interesting competition, more difficult of course, but we have to be positive, try to learn and correct everything we do more or less.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins
With Duran, who has started the last four Premier League games, suspended following his red card against Newcastle, Emery has a reliable replacement in Watkins to fill that void.
The England international has scored more Premier League goals against Brighton than any other opponent (six), netting a hat-trick in a 6-1 win in this very match last season.
Brighton – Brajan Gruda
Gruda got only his second start for Brighton against Brentford on Friday, but he showed his class against the Bees.
He created five chances from open play against Thomas Frank's side, with the German one of only two under-21 players to create as many in a Premier League match this season (also five from Manchester City's Savinho against Southampton).
MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WINS
Villa have lost just one of their last fourteen home Premier League games (W7 D6) and are unbeaten in their last eight at Villa Park since a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in August (W5 D3).
But the Villans will be looking to win their last league match in consecutive calendar years for the first time since 2007 and 2008, following a 3-2 win against Burnley in their final match of 2023.
And they will be out for revenge. They lost their last Premier League meeting with Brighton 1-0 in May, having previously won five in a row against the Seagulls.
Brighton have lost their last game of the calendar year in just two of their seven seasons in the top flight (W3 D2), with both defeats coming at home to Arsenal (2020 and 2022).
In this round, no team has scored the first goal in more different Premier League away games this season than Brighton (seven). However, the Seagulls have only won three of these matches (D2 L2).
Brighton have also won just one of their fourteen away games against Villa (D3 L10), losing their last three games in a row, including a 6-1 defeat last season.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Aston Villa – 51.5%
Draw – 24.7%
Brighton – 23.8%
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