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Indeed, a Danny Ings double that day helped Unai Emery claim his second win from his two league games in the managerial dugout after replacing Steven Gerrard as manager in late October.
The former Sevilla and Arsenal boss has noticeably introduced a higher defensive line since assuming control, with Villa catching Manchester United and Brighton offside on three occasions each on their way to gaining crucial victories.
Emery, who won the Europa League with Villarreal before taking the Yellow Submarines to the Champions League semi-final the following season in his previous role, clearly wants to keep his squad attuned to the demands of regular football, with friendlies against Cardiff City, Brighton, Chelsea and his former side Villarreal all booked in prior to their Premier League match against Liverpool on Boxing Day.
Cardiff ran out surprise 3-1 winners last Wednesday, so the 51-year-old will be hoping for a much better performance and result against the Seagulls in UAE on Thursday.
Brighton, of course, have changed managers themselves this season, too, with former Sassuolo boss Roberto De Zerbi replacing Graham Potter after the Englishman accepted the Chelsea job in early September.
De Zerbi has kept the Seagulls competitive despite mixed results overall, with his new side sitting in seventh position during the break for the World Cup.
Their defeat to Villa last time out was a disappointment having beaten Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their previous two league games – as well as overcoming Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the EFL Cup – but De Zerbi’s general style of play is undoubtedly easy on the eye.
Aston Villa will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who will almost certainly be starting for Argentina against Netherlands in Qatar on Friday, while Matty Cash and Leander Dendoncker are unlikely to feature until the return of competitive action after their exploits with Poland and Belgium respectively.
Philippe Coutinho, who was not selected for Brazil at the World Cup, could be missing until late December with a thigh injury, but Emery should otherwise have a full squad to select from.
Brighton, meanwhile, will travel without several players due to World Cup involvements, with midfielder Alexis Mac Allister likely to start for Argentina in their quarter-final clash against Netherlands on Friday.
Tariq Lamptey, Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Sarmiento, Kaoru Mitoma, Moises Caicedo, Robert Sanchez and Pervis Estupinan have all been knocked out but may be rested until the return of competitive action, potentially leaving De Zerbi massively short of options, especially with Adam Lallana and Jakub Moder both absent through injury.
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Olsen; Young, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Ramsey, Luiz, McGinn; Bailey, Ings, Watkins
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Steele; Webster, Dunk, Colwill; Veltman, Gross, Gilmour, March; Enciso, Undav, Welbeck
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
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Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life