Soccer-Watkins hat-trick inspires Villa to rampant win over Brighton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 30, 2023 Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring their second goal with Nicolo Zaniolo REUTERS/Chris Radburn

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - A hat-trick from England striker Ollie Watkins fired Aston Villa to a sensational 6-1 thrashing of high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.

Brighton travelled to the Midlands having only lost once all season, but they were put to the sword by a rampant Villa side in the first half, with a Watkins double and Pervis Estupinan own goal catapulting the hosts into a 3-0 lead by half time.