2026-08-24 09:06:07

John McGinn has apologised to Aston Villa fans after their Premier League campaign started with a terrible 4-0 defeat at Brighton.

Villa shipped four first-half goals and had Joao Gomes red card in Sunday’s (23.08.26) clash on the South Coast and the captain says that the team were “angry and disappointed” with the result – although he did remind supporters that the team recovered from a woeful start last season to enjoy a successful campaign.

McGinn said: “We started the game very well. We had the chance to go ahead with Emi Buendia. We were the ones to create the chances. But, playing at the highest level, when you make a mistake, they happen.

“The goals we conceded were poor, there’s no getting away from that.”

The Scotland international continued: “Going away in the Premier League, we obviously apologise to the supporters, it’s not easy to travel, costs a lot of money, takes a lot of time. And they don’t want to come here and see their team lose by four goals before half-time.

“But on the flipside, 4-0 down at the Amex with 10 men, we had to stand up in the second half and the squad of players in there, we had a chance to puff our chests out, be men and fight and we did that.

“We’re obviously angry and disappointed at the result. We set high standards and that’s far away from that. However, there’s a bit of me that’s proud at how we reacted. Today could easily have got away from us and got messy. A lot of pride in the second-half performance.

“After five games last season we had one point. Hopefully this season can go the same way as that.”

The result followed a summer in which Villa have lost several key players – including Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers – and manager Unai Emery lamented the upheaval that has affected the start of his side’s campaign.

The Spanish coach said: “We made some mistakes, they scored the goals and in 25 minutes we lost everything. Emotionally as well a little bit we lost.

“We lost a very important three points, but it’s something the last three years – at the beginning until the transfer window finishes – we had as well some problems, like we are having now.

“The players that are here today, they are keeping the mentality I want for the team – to be always not complaining and not blaming and trying to be passionate as well, even with a bad result like today.”

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