Luiz strike rescues point for Villa at Brentford

Douglas Luiz scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for a below-par Aston Villa against Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium.

The result sees Unai Emery’s visitors move five points behind fourth-placed Newcastle, who now have two games in hand, as they missed an opportunity to apply real pressure in the Champions League race.

Brentford, meanwhile, end a run of three straight defeats but will feel it was two points dropped after a dominant display.

Bees squander chances on dominant afternoon

The hosts were the better side from the outset but struggled to find a cutting edge after goalkeeper David Raya was forced into early action by Villa’s Emi Buendia.

Shortly before the break the visitors almost struck with the best move of the half, John McGinn combining with Ollie Watkins but seeing his curling effort narrowly miss the target.

Villa suffered a setback at the interval when World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was forced off through illness, with Robin Olsen coming on in his place.

And Brentford should have taken the lead shortly afterwards when Kevin Schade fired wide with the goal gaping having rounded Olsen, who had spilled his initial header.

The chances kept coming for Brentford, with Bryan Mbeumo in particular giving Alex Moreno a difficult afternoon down flank and Schade’s constant runs in behind causing problems.

And the pressure eventually told as Toney, so often the man to make the difference for the Bees, did so again.

The England striker met Mbeumo’s cross at the back post to finish emphatically and briefly reignite the club’s charge for European football, which Brentford boss Thomas Frank had played down before kick-off.

With three minutes of normal time remaining, however, Luiz fired home to break Brentford hearts and secure a vital point in Villa’s push for a top-four finish.

Luiz goal masks tough day for Watkins

There are not many strikers enjoying themselves more than Watkins right now, the 27-year-old having come into this game on the back of 11 goals in 12 games.

Watkins is harbouring realistic England ambitions after emerging as the driving force behind the incredible resurgence under Emery, which brought Villa five straight Premier League wins for the first time since 1998 before this result.

But this was a disappointing afternoon for Watkins on his his first return to Brentford, where he scored 49 goals in three years.

The Villa striker simply could not get into the game, and while Toney, a direct rival for a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, made the most of his chance when it came, there was nothing for Watkins to feed off.

Luiz’s strike kickstarted a late rally during which Villa’s recent character was evident again, but overall they looked toothless.

With tough fixtures to come, Villa need to get Watkins back firing quickly if they are to maintain their unlikely push for European football next season.

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