Aston Villa captain John McGinn apologises to fans but provides hope despite Brighton horror show

John McGinn apologised to the Aston Villa fans after the 4-0 thumping at Brighton, but the team's captain is refusing to hit the panic button just yet.

Jack Hinshelwood struck twice in two first-half minutes as rampant Brighton ruthlessly exploited Villa with four goals in the opening 45 minutes, while midfielder Joao Gomes was sent off on his league debut five minutes shy of half-time to add to Villa's woes.

With Brighton four goals up and Villa a man down, much of the second period was played at a pedestrian pace, but McGinn was full of praise for the character his side showed in not conceding in the second half before providing some hope after some similar poor starts in the past.

"We started the game very well," McGinn said. "We had the chance to go ahead with Emi Buendia. We were the ones to create the chances. But, playing at the highest level, when you make a mistake, they happen.

"The goals we conceded were poor, there's no getting away from that."

He added: "Going away in the Premier League, we obviously apologise to the supporters, it's not easy to travel, costs a lot of money, takes a lot of time. And they don't want to come here and see their team lose by four goals before half-time.

"But on the flipside, 4-0 down at the Amex with 10 men, we had to stand up in the second half and the squad of players in there, we had a chance to puff our chests out, be men and fight and we did that.

"We're obviously angry and disappointed at the result. We set high standards and that's far away from that. However, there's a bit of me that's proud at how we reacted. Today could easily have got away from us and got messy. A lot of pride in the second-half performance.

"After five games last season we had one point. Hopefully this season can go the same way as that."

Villa also started the 2023/24 season with a heavy 5-1 defeat at St James' Park against Newcastle but recovered to end the season with a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League.

However, Unai Emery was at a loss to explain Villa's first-half collapse at the Amex Stadium.

He said: "We started the first 10-15 minutes very well. Then I can't understand exactly why we lost in 20 minutes all the match and a player.

"But this is the process we have. We know football is not easy, we know four years working here in Villa we have to work in difficult moments as well. Always we recover a good moment. Always came back, with the situation maybe like we have now.

"The response on the field in the second half, I'm really happy. The players they didn't give up, they worked it, showed good commitment and kept going."

Villa have endured a summer exodus since winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League through a fourth-placed finish.

Key trio Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers have all been sold, while there is ongoing talk goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins will join them.

Emery, who selected Buendia, Ross Barkley and full debutant George Hemmings as his attacking options on the south coast, said: "We made some mistakes, they scored the goals and in 25 minutes we lost everything. Emotionally as well a little bit we lost.

"We lost a very important three points, but it's something the last three years - at the beginning until the transfer window finishes - we had as well some problems, like we are having now.

"The players that are here today, they are keeping the mentality I want for the team - to be always not complaining and not blaming and trying to be passionate as well, even with a bad result like today."