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Brighton edge Villa 1-0 to snap winless run

Aston Villa's Robin Olsen saves a penalty from Brighton & Hove Albion's Joao Pedro before Joao Pedro scores the rebound for their first goal. PHOTO | REUTERS

Brighton & Hove Albion snapped a six-match winless run in the Premier League when they beat Aston Villa 1-0 at home on Sunday after Joao Pedro scored an 87th-minute winner in a scrappy affair.

Simon Adingra had been Brighton's busiest player throughout the game and it was his foray into the box late in the second half which drew a foul from Villa full back Ezri Konsa which forced the referee to point to the spot.

Villa's stand-in keeper Robin Olsen had made several saves to keep his side in the game and even denied Joao Pedro from the spot, but he could do nothing when the Brazilian headed home the rebound for his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.

The result moved Brighton up to 11th place with 47 points while Villa are fourth with 67 points as they continue to wait to seal a spot in next season's Champions League with fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur still in the hunt.