Aston Villa player ratings vs Brighton: Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins all excellent

Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins were Aston Villa's goal heroes as the pair helped Steven Gerrard's side record their first win in over a month.

Cash, who dedicated his fine strike to Dynamo Kiev star Tomasz Kedziora, was first to react to a clearance before chesting the ball and striking home and true low in off Rob Sanchez's far post for his second goal of the season.

The full-back was then booked by the card-happy John Brookes - officiating just his third Premier League match - for unveiling a tribute to Polish international teammate Kedziora who's currently caught up in the diabolical scenes in the Ukrainian capital.

To the action and, after kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes due to a crash on the A23, Gerrard made two changes to his line up as he drafted Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins in for Calum Chambers and Emi Buendia.

The visitors were initially caught cold as Jacob Ramsey and then John McGinn were caught in possession with Graham Potter's side coming out the traps on the front foot.

Defensively, it was Cash who was called into action twice. The right-back cleared a deflected effort just over Emi Martinez's crossbar while, after getting caught out by a through-ball by Marc Cucurella, did well to track back to put Solly March off who bared down on goal.

It was an all-action display from Cash in the first half and he soon popped up with a beauty, firing a powerful drive beyond Sanchez to put Villa 1-0 to the good.

Just seconds later, though, Cash was caught out by a long ball as March advanced, teed-up Neal Maupay before his back-heel fed Alexis Mac Allister who cannoned his effort off the top of Martinez's crossbar and away.

Villa continued to press, though, with Ramsey producing a strong run into Brighton's box,