Albion floored by late Aston Villa winner

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Tyrone Mings scores the only goal with four minutes to go to condemn Albion to an undeserved defeat.

Bruce Talbot

2026-02-11T21:30+00:00

James Milner challenges Amadou Onana. 📷James Boardman

A brave performance by Albion – particularly in the second half – went unrewarded after Villa grabbed a late winner.

On the night when James Milner equalled Gareth Barry’s Premier League record of 653 appearances against one of his former clubs, Albion were the better side after the break with Ferdi Kadioglu going closest with a shot which Emi Martinez tipped onto the crossbar.

The least Albion deserved was a point, but with four minutes left Tyrone Mings headed in a corner on his 200th Villa appearance to give his team a win they scarcely deserved.

Ferdi Kadioglu hit the crossbar with this second-half shot. 📷James Boardman

Fabian Hurzeler had changed half of his outfield players after Sunday’s defeat to Crystal Palace with Joel Veltman, Jan Paul van Hecke, Jack Hinshelwood, Diego Gomez and Danny Welbeck coming in.

Milner made his appearance in the 21st minute when he replaced Carlos Baleba, who was booked after just two minutes for bringing down Morgan Rogers.

Rogers and Jadon Sancho both tested Bart Verbruggen early on but after starting well Villa’s attacking threat faded, although Emi Buendia saw a low shot from the edge of the box deflect inches wide off Lewis Dunk.

Bart Verbruggen at full stretch makes an early save to deny Morgan Rogers. 📷James Boardman

Albion were compact and organised and just before the break Danny Welbeck tested Martinez with a first-time shot after Milner set up the chance. It was the first sign of a purposeful attacking performance in the second half by Albion.

They grew in confidence as the Villa Park crowd grew more anxious and began to create chances.

Welbeck played Kaoru Mitoma in down the left and he cut inside before curling a right-foot shot just wide of the far post.

Kaoru Mitoma dispossesses Lamare Bogarde. 📷James Boardman

Albion went desperately close in the 54th minute when Kadioglu hit a first-time right-foot shot from the edge of the box and Martinez produced a world-class save to tip it onto the crossbar.

Jan Paul van Hecke had done well against Ollie Watkins, so it was a blow when he came off but Albion continued to look more threatening. Pascal Gross was desperately close to getting a decisive touch at the far post to Kadioglu’s excellent cross before a counterattack started by Gomez’s barnstorming run from inside his own half ended with Hinshelwood hooking a shot wide from 15 yards. Martinez then pushed out Milner’s shot which was heading for the bottom corner.

Danny Welbeck challenges Emi Martinez to a cross. 📷James Boardman

Albion had played so well in the second half but with four minutes to go came a sucker punch when Mings rose highest to head a corner past Verbruggen, although the last touch may have come off the unfortunate Hinshelwood.

The consolation for Albion is that if they maintain this level of performance in coming games they will surely start picking up positive results again.

Albion: Verbruggen, Veltman, van Hecke (Boscagli 61), Dunk, Kadioglu, Mitoma (Minteh 80), Baleba (Milner 22), Hinshelwood, Gross, Gomez (Howell 80), Welbeck (Kostoulas 80).