Aston Villa broke a run of two straight defeats with a 2-0 victory at Brighton where Matty Cash sent a tribute to a Poland team-mate stuck in Ukraine after scoring
After back-to-back defeats to Newcastle and Watford, the focus was on Steven Gerrard's team to respond and they got the perfect start when Cash skilfully struck them in front from 25 yards
During his goal celebration, the full-back lifted his Villa shirt and unveiled a T-shirt, with the message "stay strong bro" to his Poland team-mate Tomasz Kedziora, who is still in Ukraine with his family
Referee John Brooks responded by booking Cash
Despite arriving late to the Amex due to traffic issues that delayed the kick-off by 30 minutes, Villa were sharper in the final third and after Phillipe Coutinho was denied by a flying Robert Sanchez save from a 25-yard free-kick, Ollie Watkins wrapped up the points
 The striker scored his first goal in seven Premier League games after taking advantage of some lacklustre defending from Joel Veltman
It was another limp display from Brighton, who have now lost three on the bounce without scoring and registered just one shot on target in this defeat
Energy, energy, energy
 Where does the midfielder get it from? He was everywhere in this victory for Aston Villa
 His performance set the tone for a professional away performance
Even in stoppage time when the game was won, McGinn was the runner from midfield sprinting forward to support Watkins as Villa successfully rode to victory
 No player won more duels or won more possession for Villa than McGinn in this supreme performance
 There was also room in his game to provide Villa with an attack threat, too
 He was denied in the first half by a top Robert Sanchez save - one of three shots he had at goal
With only one win in their last seven Premier League games, Gerrard had some questions to answer ahead of this fixture as to whether Villa can challenge towards the top end of the table
 He answered them as his team were back to what made them so tough to beat in his first few games in charge
 Defensively they were outstanding, restricting a usually Brighton team to minimal chances, in a game the away side had full control of from the moment they took the lead
Brighton, usually so dominant when it comes to expected goals, registered only 0
62 as Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa defended deep but with superb authority
 It was Brighton's lowest expected goals return of the season
 Gerrard should take great pride in that
 He looked pumped up at the final whistle as he celebrated in front of a raucous away end
 This was a timely reminder of his abilities as a great organiser and tactician
"We've been in some sticky form but credit to the players they have stayed focused," Gerrard said
"It's been a positive week
 But we had to be patient as there was a crash on the motorway
 We remained focused and put on a strong away performance
 We owned the pitch out of possession and all our good stuff came on the back of that
 We looked the more dangerous team
 The game plan worked to a tee
"Gerrard has taken responsibility for the yellow card shown to Cash, suggesting Aston Villa missed a message from the Premier League about showcasing tributes on shirts due to their late arrival
"The yellow card is on us - there is no finger-pointing," Gerrard said
"There was a message that came down [from the Premier League] but due to our late arrival I'm not sure we got it too clear
"There is no blame on Cashy at all
 I should have mentioned before the game to the players but I didn't
 So I'm responsible for that yellow card
 There's no blame on the Premier League or the player
 That's on me
""The performance was better than the result
 The boys put a lot into the game
 The goals punished us, with the first one coming against the run of play
 We had started well
"The little moments didn't go for us
 Credit to Villa - they defended well - but we should deal with the second goal better
 Two actions have cost us
 We weren't far away today
 We missed that little bit of quality
 It just wasn't our day
 The margins are small in this league
 We didn't get carved open but Villa scored two and sometimes that happens in football
"Brighton visit Newcastle at St James' Park in the Premier League at 3pm on Saturday March 5
 Aston Villa host Southampton, also at 3pm next Saturday
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