BIRMINGHAM – Aston Villa clinched a pivotal 2-1 victory over Brentford in a pulsating encounter, rising to second in the Premier League standings. The match, filled with drama, saw both teams reduced to ten men and featured late goals from Alex Moreno and Ollie Watkins, overturning Brentford’s early lead.
Villa, introducing fresh legs with Matty Cash, Moreno, Moussa Diaby, and Jacob Ramsey, started assertively. However, Brentford, with Zanka, Mikkel Damsgaard, and Mads Roerslev in the lineup, posed an early threat. Damsgaard’s strike, following a Vitaly Janelt setup, was well-saved by Emiliano Martinez.
Moreno, embodying Villa’s initial dominance, broke through Brentford’s backline but failed to convert. Villa continued to press, with Ramsey narrowly missing the target, connecting with Watkins. The script flipped dramatically in the 45th minute when Keane Lewis-Potter seized on a loose ball from a corner, firing his first Premier League goal past Martinez.
Villa resumed with intent, yet Brentford’s counter-attacking menace lingered. Watkins and Moreno came close for Villa, while Brentford nearly doubled their lead but were denied by Moreno’s decisive intervention.
The match’s dynamics shifted in the 71st minute. Ben Mee’s challenge on substitute Leon Bailey was upgraded from a yellow to a red card after a VAR review. Villa, seizing their numerical advantage, equalized six minutes later with Moreno heading in Bailey’s cross.
The climax arrived in the 85th minute when Watkins, a former Brentford player, headed in Boubacar Kamara’s flick-on to complete Villa’s comeback. Emotions flared post-goal, leading to yellow cards for Neal Maupay and Martinez, and a red card for Kamara for violent conduct in added time.
Despite being down a player, Villa stood resilient, securing their 25th Premier League win of 2023 – a record for the club in a calendar year.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Aston Villa, propelling them into the upper echelons of the league. Their ability to overturn a deficit, coupled with strategic in-game adjustments, underscored their resilience and tactical acumen.
For Brentford, the defeat adds to their recent woes, dropping them to 12th with 19 points. The Bees’ propensity to lose points from winning positions continues to be a concern, having now relinquished 17 points in such scenarios this season – the most in the league.
Aston Villa’s historic victory not only cements their place among the league’s elite but also signals their potential as serious contenders in the Premier League race.
