Brighton rout Aston Villa 4-0 as Joao Gomes sees red on debut
What's new: Villa were 4-0 down by the 31st minute, and Ollie Watkins was absent as he weighs a move to Al-Hilal.
Brighton opened their Premier League season with a 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium, overwhelming Unai Emery's side before halftime. Jack Hinshelwood scored twice, while Maxim De Cuyper added a goal and forced a Victor Lindelof own goal as Brighton built a four-goal lead inside 31 minutes. Villa's misery deepened in the 40th minute when new signing Joao Gomes was sent off on his debut for violent conduct after catching Georginio Rutter with a high boot. Emery was also without a recognized center forward, with Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham injured and Ollie Watkins left out of the squad as interest from Al-Hilal continues.