The fans leave: Brighton humiliate Aston Villa in 40 minutes!

The Seagulls make a strong start to the Premier League

Aston Villa suffered a heavy blow against Brighton after finding themselves 4-0 down and playing with 10 men within just the first 40 minutes of the match, in one of their worst starts this season.

Brighton opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Aston Villa defender Victor Lindelof turned the ball into his own net, handing the hosts an early lead.

The onslaught kept coming. Maxim De Cuyper made it two in the 18th minute after a pass from Georginio Rutter, then Jack Hinshelwood headed home the third in the 30th minute.

Just one minute later, Hinshelwood struck again for his second and his side's fourth, pouncing on a rebound inside the penalty area and slotting it home.

Villa's misery deepened in the 40th minute. VAR reviewed a challenge by Joao Gomes, and referee Peter Bankes rescinded the yellow card to brandish a straight red at the Aston Villa player.

Four down and a man short, the travelling Villa fans had seen enough. A number of them began filing out of the stands before the end of the first half.