Premier League: Aston Villa’s top-four bid dashed at Brighton, Chelsea beat West Ham football news

Aston Villa’s bid to seal a Premier League top-four finish was dealt a blow with a 1-0 defeat at Brighton, while Chelsea beat West Ham 5-0 on Sunday to keep their hopes of European qualification alive. A win for Villa would have sealed a Champions League place for Unai Emery’s side, coupled with Tottenham’s defeat at Liverpool in Sunday’s late game. But Villa were unable to fulfill their part of that equation as Joao Pedro’s 87th-minute goal handed them a second painful defeat in four days.

Pedro saved Robin Olsen’s penalty from the rebound, which was awarded for Ezri Konsa’s foul on Simon Edingara, ending Brighton’s six-match winless run.

Villa were once again well below their best, surprisingly beaten 4-2 by Olympiacos in the first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final on Thursday.

Villa remain in fourth place, seven points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, with two games in hand.

Emery’s men host Liverpool and travel to Crystal Palace in their last two matches as they fight to return to the Champions League for the first time since 1982-83.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea beat London rivals West Ham to move above Manchester United into seventh place.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is struggling to convince club co-owner Todd Boehly to give him a second season in charge after his troubled first campaign.

Pochettino admits it is “not his decision” if he stays, but securing a place in Europe could be enough to avoid the sack.

Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead with his 21st league goal of the season in the 15th minute, the forward scoring after West Ham had failed to score.

Conor Gallagher doubled Chelsea’s lead with a powerful volley after 30 minutes after West Ham’s Kurt Zouma turned the ball onto the midfielder.

Noni Maduake gave Chelsea’s third goal six minutes later when the winger turned in Thiago Silva’s header from close-range.

Nicholas Jackson made matters worse for poor West Ham by tapping in Madueke’s cross in the 48th minute.

With 10 minutes remaining the Senegal striker was on target again.

The one-sided nature of the defeat has done no part to reduce speculation over the future of West Ham boss David Moyes, who has come under fire from fans for his perceived negative game-plan.

Ninth-placed West Ham have reportedly held talks with former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui and could opt to move on from Moyes, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)