Dominant Brighton badly missed that Amex roar against Aston Villa

Emiliano Martínez was excellent for Aston Villa and denied Albion substitute Danny Welbeck in the second half

Benjamin Disraeli famously once said “ There are lies, damned lies and statistics”, after 45 minutess statistically the Albion had 52 per cent possession, 12 shots on goal, four of those on target.

A number of the chances fell to 6ft 7in Dan Burn, yet for their first half dominance at the break nothing to show for it.

After a memorable hat-trick of 1-0 wins against Leeds, Spurs and Liverpool respectively, was it going to be a case of as you were for Graham Potter’s ‘passing and possession’ project?

Whilst relegation is as unlikely as Matt Hancock winning the GQ Man of the Year award, but if this is frustrating in an empty stadium, how much frustrating would it be for the 30,000 Albion faithful who in normal times would have paid to watch it?

Maybe that’s the key, like the boxers who hate sparring sessions, maybe this gifted Albion squad can’t truly click in an empty stadium.

With almost identical second half stats, 14 shots this time though, not even the introduction of seasoned England internationals Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck could turn the Albion’s dominance into goals.

0-0 on what felt like the coldest night of the year, honours even, I’m off to thaw out and find out who won ‘The Masked Singer’?

My money’s on Kendo Nagasaki, how ironic would that be?