Villa seal Conference League place with win over Brighton

BIRMINGHAM, England : Aston Villa secured a return to Europe in the Conference League next season with a 2-1 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion as goals from Douglas Luiz and Ollie Watkins on Sunday saw them end the Premier League campaign in seventh place.

Deniz Undav pulled a goal back for sixth-placed Brighton, who had already sealed their best ever league finish prior to kick-off and are looking forward to a maiden continental campaign in the Europa League next term.

Villa finished the season on 61 points from 38 games after a revival in fortunes under Unai Emery, who took over a team hovering just above the relegation zone with 12 points from 13 games in October.

Undav also had a goal disallowed for offside, while Villa’s Jacob Ramsey provided a contender for miss of the season when he ballooned the ball over from four yards with the goal gaping.