Unai Emery in 'very difficult' admission after Aston Villa's defensive woes continue

The boss knows his team must improve at the back if they are to stand any chance of repeating last year’s feat of qualifying for the Champions League.

Villa have conceded 31 goals in 19 Premier League matches, keeping just two clean sheets and their inability to see games out again cost them in Monday’s 2-2 draw with Brighton, when Tariq Lamptey netted an 81st minute leveller for the visitors.

Emery said: “We have to improve on this because if not it is going to be very difficult, conceding goals like we are conceding.

“The league is very tight, there are a lot of teams around us. We have to be more consistent in the second half of the season.” 

Villa entered 2025 sitting ninth in the table, still very much in the mix for European football in what are tightly-congested standings.

But they would be far better placed were they able to start and finish matches better. Simon Adingra’s 12th minute opener for Brighton on Monday was the 11th time Villa have conceded this season from their opponents’ first shot on target.

Lamptey’s leveller, meanwhile, was the 11th goal they had conceded in the final 15 minutes. No team in the Premier League has let in more late on.

Asked if his players were suffering from a lack of concentration at the start and end of matches, Emery replied: “It’s difficult. More or less they are the same players (as last season) and the same structure we are trying to build.

“On Monday the first goal we conceded was one example. I told the players why in the first 20 minutes we are starting lower in the rhythm we needed? I don’t know.

“I will support the players because always it is my responsibility to try and get from their best in their attitude, commitment and focus for 90 minutes. 

“Sometimes we are not getting it and Monday was an example. In Newcastle we conceded in the second minute. Why? I know why. On Monday I know why but that is why we need to continue working.

“We are conceding a lot of goals and that is something we have to try and correct.”

Emery also acknowledged his team, who had fought back to lead through an Ollie Watkins penalty and a Morgan Rogers goal early in the second half, had paid the price for not killing Brighton off when leading 2-1. Of Villa’s 20 shots in the match, only four were on target.

“The key was to score the third goal and try to close it,” added the boss.

“We are conceding a lot of goals and it is my responsibility to correct with the coaches and the players.”