Brighton boss Graham Potter insists there is more to come from Danny Welbeck after the striker scored his first goal for the club at Aston Villa.
Welbeck, who joined Albion last month on a free transfer after leaving Watford, opened the scoring after 12 minutes at Villa Park on Saturday to set Potter’s men on their way to a 2-1 victory.
Adam Lallana sent Welbeck clear with a neat through-ball but the former England striker still had plenty to do, carrying the ball half the length of the pitch before keeping his composure to calmly lift his shot over former Arsenal team-mate Emiliano Martinez.
It was only Welbeck’s third appearance for the club, and his second start, and Potter has been pleased with what he has seen.
“Danny Welbeck was fantastic. It’s clear he influenced the game well and took his goal well. He had a long way to go to finish, and it was a great finish. I’m delighted for Danny that he scored,” said Potter.
“He linked up with the team and was incredible out of possession. He defended when he had to and he brought his personality as well so I’m really pleased for him.
“That’s his first full 90 minutes so there’s definitely more to come from him. But he influenced the game really well and I’m delighted for him and the team.
“I just think he is looking like he is enjoying his football. He has done that since he has come here. He has been a breath of fresh air for us. The boys have responded really well to him, he’s responded to the boys and he just looks like he’s enjoying his football.”
Villa have now lost all three home matches since the emphatic 7-2 defeat of Premier League champions Liverpool at the beginning of October.
“We’ve conceded too many goals at home already,” said Villa boss Dean Smith. “The Southampton game was a freak game. The only team who’ve deserved to beat us is Leeds. We should never have lost (against Brighton) and we need to be better at home.
“We don’t play until Monday but it’s not a nice feeling coming away from a game – where you know you should have got something from – with nothing.”
