---
title: "Aston Villa predicted XI: Brighton (A)"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/13/aston-villa-predicted-xi-brighton-away/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-02-13T12:15:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-13T12:15:00Z"
---

# Aston Villa predicted XI: Brighton (A)

[Aston Villa](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/13/aston-villa-morning-news-round-up-13th-february-2021/) travel to face Brighton & Hove Albion tonight and Dean Smith could make one change from the side which [beat Arsenal 1-0](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/february/Aston-Villa-1-0-Arsenal/) 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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/ausfallzeiten/verein/405) alongside **Tyrone Mings** at centre-back and helped to prevent Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang from [registering a shot on target](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1485369/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021-Aston-Villa-Arsenal), so Dean Smith will likely trust in the defensive pair once more.

**Matty Cash** turned over the ball [seven times](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1485369/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021-Aston-Villa-Arsenal) against Arsenal and has been [first-choice at right-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/ausfallzeiten/verein/405), so his place isn’t in doubt either. **Matt Targett** [won five tackles](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1485369/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021-Aston-Villa-Arsenal) last Saturday and is [miles ahead of Neil Taylor](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/ausfallzeiten/verein/405) at left-back.

**Douglas Luiz** was [rested in deference to Marvelous Nakamba](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/ausfallzeiten/verein/405) against the Gunners but should return to the starting lineup. **John McGinn** should keep his place as he has [played every minute](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/john-mcginn/leistungsdaten/spieler/193116) 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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bertrand-traore/leistungsdaten/spieler/131996) last Saturday, so he should keep his place in the team.

**Ross Barkley** has kept his place despite some [inconsistency of late](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/92547/MatchStatistics/Ross-Barkley) and is likely to keep his place against Brighton as only **Jack Grealish** can [operate in the central playmaker role](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jack-grealish/leistungsdaten/spieler/203460) 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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdaten/spieler/324358) this season. He certainly starts.

***Predicted XI vs Brighton:*** *Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Luiz, McGinn; Traore, Barkley, Grealish; Watkins*