In a thrilling Premier League encounter at Villa Park, Aston Villa and Brentford ended in a 3-3 draw. Ollie Watkins, with two goals, including a late equalizer, was a standout performer, bringing his season tally to 18 goals and 10 assists. Brentford staged a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down, scoring three times in nine minutes, with goals from Jorgensen (59'), Mbeumo (61'), and Wissa (68'), to lead 3-2 before Watkins' second goal leveled the match. The game was marked by aggressive pressing from Brentford in the second half, which Villa struggled to counter. Despite the intense match, Villa's Morgan Rogers scored his first goal for the club, contributing to the six-goal spectacle. The draw has implications for Villa's top-four aspirations, as they were unable to secure three points against a resilient Brentford side.
Ivan Toney separated from Brentford teammate after heated altercation https://t.co/j0t562uNa3
Ivan Toney and Nathan Collins were going at it following Brentford's 3-3 draw away at Aston Villa! π³ https://t.co/ggXFlZ0Z1d
Aston Villa 3-3 Brentford: Late Watkins goal earns point for Villa https://t.co/SIwoeqWwdr
Thomas Frank on #AVFC: "Villa and Unai have done an amazing job so far and hopefully they can do it. Because of their history & they haven't been in the Champions League for a long time, I always like to see a team outperform the big teams.Competing in Europe is very impressive."
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins says his side "lacked big team mentality" after they threw away a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at home to Brentford. #AVFC https://t.co/zwbCNKALMd
Top-four chasing Villa held by Brentford in rollercoaster 3-3 draw https://t.co/UyqMaoNEOw https://t.co/hgI24lasLB
The average positioning of #AVFC and Brentford in both halves are stark and tell the story - Brentford more aggressive, refusing to let Villa out from their defensive third, winning their duels and Villa were stifled and suffocated - Douglas Luiz's yellow is very damaging.
Ollie Watkins denies former club Brentford in six-goal thriller at Aston Villa #AVLBRE https://t.co/46ym3i0r0g
β½ 18 goals π― 10 assists Ollie Watkins is having an unbelievable Premier League season π https://t.co/wsamuxmjHR
A rollercoaster encounter at Villa Park ends level π’ #AVLBRE https://t.co/IecqJQLUvR
A chaotic second-half means Brentford earn a point at Villa Park. At one stage they were leading 3-2, but Villa's pressure was so intense it was inevitable they would score. A gutsy comeback andf performance to be proud of.
FT: #AVFC 3-3 Brentford A breathless second half - Villa looked blown away in a nine-minute spell where Brentford scored their goals and only found some sort of answer after going behind. Impressive rally after looking completely drained, but lost key individual duels.
Ollie Watkins OUTJUMPS THE GOALKEEPER for his second goal of the day. No mercy or muted celebration for old team Brentford. π¦ https://t.co/7YK8cIx0Hb
Villa throwing absolutely everything at Brentford. Watkins going close with a header, Digne lashing a volley over the bar and there are still seven minutes of added-time left.
This match. 3-3 π€― Ollie Watkins rises highest to head home and we are back level at Villa Park! #AVLBRE https://t.co/O6dzDMkkXO
WHAT A GAME! π² Ollie Watkins levels for Villa! βοΈ https://t.co/57htKC3cYC
Bailey's deflected cross finds Watkins at the back post who gets above Zanka and Flekken to head in. Just before that, Kesler-Hayden, Diaby and Alex Moren were going to come on. Have now retreated to the bench. 3-3 #AVFC
GOALLLL WATKINS 3-3 #AVFC
β½οΈ Jorgensen (59') β½οΈ Mbuemo (61') β½οΈ Wissa (68) An incredible turnaround from Brentford at Villa Park! Thomas Frank's side score three times in nine minutes to come back from 2-0 down and lead 3-2. #AVLBRE https://t.co/nJFHFqCII3
Villa look shellshocked. Brentford are flying! This game has completely turned around! #BBCFootball #AVLBRE https://t.co/L8hQoElE5q
Brentford's press second half has been aggressive and outstanding and Villa have had no breathing space or answer. Suffocated and made to defend as a result, which has not been good enough #AVFC
Brentford complete the comeback! π€― Yoane Wissa taps it in from close range! π https://t.co/vQhdzqOqAl
Every Brentford goal has started and came down Villa's right side and between the two centre backs. Nicolo Zaniolo is on. #AVFC
3-2 Brentford. #AVFC
Two goals in two minutes and the momentum has shifted. Brentford aggressively pressing Villa and winning every duel. Need to find an out-ball, but energy levels and decision making have both dipped worryingly. Has felt weirdly ominous since Rogers' goal went in, in truth #AVFC
β½οΈ Jorgensen 59' β½οΈ Mbeumo 61' In the space of two minutes, @BrentfordFC score twice to draw level at Villa Park π² #AVLBRE https://t.co/Ds11UUv6tg
Brentford have put one more player in the forward line and, like in the reverse fixture, their runners from deep are causing #AVFC's defenders all sorts of problems. Two goals in two minutes for Brentford and Villa have gone soft.
Morgan Rogers with his 1st for Villa. Unai's guys on the up. π https://t.co/QvpXkhcwzx
What a start to the second-half for Aston Villa. Morgan Rogers puts Unai Emery's side 2-0 up against Brentford inside a minute of the restart. #AVLBRE https://t.co/ndvTcw8CQQ
What a moment for Morgan Rogers! And in front of the Holte End as well! #BBCFootball #AVLBRE https://t.co/H1ABXykpDt
That was quick π¨ 32 seconds into the second half, Morgan Rogers scores his first goal for @AVFCOfficial to double the hosts lead π₯ #AVLBRE https://t.co/t45Aa43DnL
What a start to the second half for Villa! β‘ Morgan Rogers scores his FIRST goal for the club! π£ https://t.co/GxhZHK3QCl
Morgan Rogers deserves that. Less than a minute into the 2nd half.He drifts behind Brentford's midfield, between the lines on the right, cuts inside Ajer and finishes with his left Emery liked how well-balanced, two-footed Rogers is - the goal perfectly illustrates it. 2-0 #AVFC
GOALLLL ROGERSSS First #AVFC Goal! 2-0
Brentford unlucky to be losing 1-0 at HT. They have defended well and made it difficult for Aston Villa to open them up. One cross and that hard work was undone. Damsgaard has been the shining light and they need to find him on the ball more to release Mbeumo and Wissa.
Brentford were on a dangerous counter when the referee blew for half time. Brentford players apopletic. Ivan Toney, on the bench, waits for the referee as they head down the tunnel. #AVFC
HT: #AVFC 1-0 Brentford Villa dominated possession but struggled to create anything clearcut. Brentford increasingly niggly & Watkins was receiving rough treatment. But his goal (the first shot on target) was indicative of a proper No 9 -between the posts & holding off defenders
Ollie Watkins heads Villa in front! π£ https://t.co/WsgcuGT0wL
He's back. A 17th Premier League goal of the season for Ollie Watkins. Villa have struggled to break down Brentford's low block and Watkins has been given rough treatment (Emery not happy about it), yet he shields off Zanka to win the header from McGinn's whipped cross. 1-0 #AVFC
Aston Villa 1-0 Brentford β Watkins. Would you be shocked if I said it came from a back post cross?
GOALLL WATKINSSS 1-0 #AVFC
#AVFC finding it difficult to break down Brentford. Digne has been better than Moreno this season but perhaps a surprise he started today as Villa are lacking ball-carrying and width high and wide on the left. Everything is in front of Brentford, at the moment.
Brentford on the counter from an Aston Villa corner and Damsgaard is free on the left wing but Mbeumo is brought down before he can make the pass. Thomas Frank furious no foul was given and is still talking to the fourth official a minute later
Rogers, Watkins and McGinn are three v three against Brentford's centre-backs. A few times already McGinn has dragged Collins in with him, leaving Watkins to try and spin behind Ajer. Diego Carlos, as always, is looking for the striker. #AVFC
No Ivan Toney for Brentford. A muscle injury. #AVFC
Ivan Toney has been dropped to the bench for #BrentfordFC's game against Aston Villa and replaced by Bryan Mbeumo. Toney is carrying slight muscular issue he picked up in warm-up ahead of 0-0 draw with Brighton on Wednesday
π Brentford frustrated Brighton on Wednesday evening with a defensive and disciplined performance More of the same is required if Thomas Frankβs side want to earn a positive result against Aston Villa today @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/9VV8w8qQdN
Jacob Ramsey is out for the rest of the season with a foot injury. Ramsey has suffered regular setbacks since breaking a metatarsal last summer. Emery says Ollie Watkins & Emi Martinez will be included in the squad to face Brentford. @TheAthleticFC #AVFC https://t.co/9xBMlgLa8n