Aston Villa salvage late point against Brentford after second-half collapse

Aston Villa salvaged a late point against Brentford in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Villa Park, but the hosts were left ruing a second-half collapse that saw them throw away a 2-0 lead. Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers had put Villa ahead, but Brentford fought back with goals from Zanka, Bryan Mbeumo, and Yoane Wissa to take a 3-2 lead with 10 minutes to go. However, Watkins popped up with a late header to secure a draw for Villa.

Watkins, who now has 18 goals in the Premier League this season, was the standout performer for Villa, scoring twice against his former club. Despite the late heroics, Villa’s inability to see out the game left them frustrated, with Watkins acknowledging the team’s lack of a “big-team mentality” to kill off games.

The result leaves Villa in a precarious position in the race for the top four, with Tottenham hot on their heels. Brentford, on the other hand, find themselves just four points above the relegation zone after Luton’s win over Bournemouth.

Villa will be without Douglas Luiz for their upcoming clash against Arsenal, adding to the frustration of a bizarre performance at Villa Park. Manager Unai Emery expressed his disappointment at the result, highlighting the need for his team to analyze and correct their mistakes.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank praised his team’s incredible mentality to come back from a two-goal deficit, emphasizing the players’ response in the second half. Despite the disappointment of not securing a win, Frank remains confident in his team’s ability to build on their consistent performances.

The thrilling encounter at Villa Park showcased the unpredictability of the Premier League, with both teams displaying moments of brilliance and vulnerability. Villa and Brentford will look to build on this performance in their upcoming fixtures as they aim to achieve their respective goals in the league.