Brighton are clearly in a rut – but they are being undone by the fine margins.

One win in 13 Premier League games, falling from fifth to 14th, tells one story – but not the full tale.

They have drawn six of those, beat Burnley and also secured an FA Cup win at Manchester United.

Advertisement

Arsenal, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa – now twice – have beaten them by the odd goal, with Liverpool’s 2-0 win the heaviest defeat in this latest run.

Had Emi Martinez not got a fingertip on Ferdi Kadioglu’s effort to turn it on to the bar, Brighton would have taken the lead here and left Villa chasing the game.

And it was only Jack Hinshelwood’s unfortunate deflection which meant the Seagulls left Villa Park with nothing.

During their home loss to Palace last week, some Brighton fans sung “sacked in the morning” at boss Fabian Hurzeler, which seems implausible after they finished eighth last season and had such a strong start to this term.

Advertisement

Hurzeler has credit in the bank and his side were just a few minutes away from a gutsy, gritty draw against Villa which would have been the least they deserved.

The sliding-doors moments are just opening the wrong way for the Seagulls at present.