Aston Villa travel to face Brighton & Hove Albion tonight and Dean Smith could make one change from the side which beat Arsenal 1-0 last weekend.
Emiliano Martinez kept a clean sheet against his former club and should keep his place against the Seagulls. Ezri Konsa has been a regular alongside Tyrone Mings at centre-back and helped to prevent Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang from registering a shot on target, so Dean Smith will likely trust in the defensive pair once more.
Matty Cash turned over the ball seven times against Arsenal and has been first-choice at right-back, so his place isn’t in doubt either. Matt Targett won five tackles last Saturday and is miles ahead of Neil Taylor at left-back.
Douglas Luiz was rested in deference to Marvelous Nakamba against the Gunners but should return to the starting lineup. John McGinn should keep his place as he has played every minute of every Premier League game for which he has been available for this season.
Bertrand Traore returned to the starting lineup and assisted Villa’s winning goal last Saturday, so he should keep his place in the team.
Ross Barkley has kept his place despite some inconsistency of late and is likely to keep his place against Brighton as only Jack Grealish can operate in the central playmaker role and that would leave a void on the left wing. Grealish has to start on the left, so Barkley stays central.
Ollie Watkins scored the winner against Arsenal and has played every minute in the Premier League this season. He certainly starts.
Predicted XI vs Brighton: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Luiz, McGinn; Traore, Barkley, Grealish; Watkins
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