Watkins hits treble as Villa blow Brighton away

Ollie Watkins scored a hat-trick in front of England manager Gareth Southgate on Saturday, as Aston Villa recorded a thumping 6-1 win over Brighton at Villa Park. 

Omitted from the last Three Lions squad, Watkins certainly made a strong case for inclusion for England's forthcoming games against Australia and Italy with a fine all-round performance that also saw him assist Jacob Ramsey for Villa's fifth goal. 

Watkins set the ball rolling inside the first 15 minutes when he was in the right place at the right time to divert Matty Cash's cross past Jason Steele in Brighton's goal after a well-worked move down Villa's right. 

The Seagulls were uncharacteristically loose in possession at times throughout and a slip up from Joel Veltman allowed Watkins to break with intent and squeeze home a shot at the near post for the Midlanders' second goal after 21 minutes - and an own goal from Pervis Estupinan five minutes later saw Roberto de Zerbi's visitors with a mountain to climb at the break. 

After making three substitutions, Brighton did threaten to make of a game of it after the interval when Ansu Fati turned home from close range after good work from Joao Pedro - but that man Watkins killed any hopes of a Seagulls comeback with his third of the afternoon, a left-footed shot that clipped a visiting defender on its way past Steele. 

Villa sub Jacob Ramsey curled home a well-taken fifth to thrill the Villa faithful, and an emphatic afternoon's work was capped with a late strike from midfielder Douglas Luiz.