Can Aston Villa maintain their momentum in the Premier League after shaking up the title race? Brentford initially appeared to crush the Villans’ hopes with a strong defense and a goal from Keane Lewis-Potter. However, once Ben Mee was sent off and they were down to 10 players, they could not withstand Villa’s persistent attacks and confidence.
Aston Villa has achieved their first victory at Brentford since February 1953, which was also the week when Disney released the first full-length Peter Pan animated movie. This marks the first time in the 21st century that Aston Villa has been a contender for the title, proving that it is not just a fictional tale. However, this match was not without its intense moments, with numerous harsh tackles, ten players receiving bookings, and three incidents off the field due to ongoing aggression. Even the celebrations for Ollie Watkins’ winning goal against his previous team were met with conflict.
The match ended with Boubacar Kamara being sent off after a scuffle started by Emi Martínez knocking Neal Maupay to the ground. Other players and coaches joined in. Unai Emery went straight to Martínez but could not stop Kamara from pushing Yegor Yarmolyuk. “I was trying to calm the players down,” said the manager of Villa, who received a yellow card for his efforts to maintain peace. “I’m trying to talk to him,” he said of Martínez, who had a great performance as the team’s goalkeeper.
Later on, Watkins attempted to calm the situation by clarifying his actions. He stated, “My celebration may have sparked it, but that does not mean I lack respect for the fans. I have great love for the club, players, and staff, and I have no negative words to say about them. However, there was one person who continuously harassed me throughout the game.”
The Villa team suggested that the abuser had made negative comments about Watkins’s family. “I personally know Ollie to be a person of high moral character,” Frank added, using tactful language.
Brentford is facing a lot of injuries, especially with Bryan Mbeumo out until after the Africa Cup of Nations. This is a major issue for Frank, who is known for his ability to handle setbacks as a manager. He takes pleasure in defeating teams with higher aspirations, but their recent loss to a top club marked their fifth defeat in six games. Despite this, Frank commended his team for giving their all.
He disapproved of the events that occurred at the end and reprimanded his players, but he was also clearly dissatisfied with Villa’s actions. “However, it is crucial that we exhibit class.”
Prior to Mee’s removal from the team, it was evident that Villa, despite their progress this season, did not have enough depth in their roster. Although Leon Bailey played exceptionally well in crucial wins against Manchester City and Arsenal, he was only available as a substitute due to an injury. Additionally, two regular starters, Douglas Luiz and Lucas Digne, were unable to play due to suspensions.
At the start of the game, Brentford, known for their aggressive pressing, were forced to defend in their own half. However, this created opportunities for counterattacks and Martínez made a spectacular save to deny Mikkel Damsgaard and keep Brentford from taking the lead early on. Brentford had a penalty appeal dismissed after John McGinn seemed to bring down Mee in a rough manner, hinting at the later confrontational moments. “I believe there were three errors today,” Frank stated. “Even though it feels like we were treated unfairly, we must continue on.”
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Sitting in the stands next to his teammate Rico Henry, Ivan Toney likely contemplated how he could capitalize on the lackluster Villa defense. When playing away, Villa tends to make more frequent and costly mistakes compared to their strong performance at home in Villa Park. Just before halftime, Lewis-Potter seized the opportunity presented by this sloppiness. The ball bounced off Kamara, Watkins, and a scrambling Álex Moreno before the former Hull player patiently awaited Saman Ghoddos’s corner kick to score his first goal in the Premier League.
In the second half, Villa was on the offensive against a defensive Brentford team. Emery was seen struggling on the sidelines. Mee’s red card changed the course of the game in Villa’s favor. Mee intentionally fouled Bailey to prevent him from getting past and also caused injury to the Jamaican player. Mee was quick to leave the field as soon as the referee, David Coote, was called to review the incident on video. Frank questioned whether physical contact should be allowed in the sport. He became even more frustrated when the substitute Maupay was blocked by Konsa but neither Coote nor the VAR, Craig Pawson, awarded a penalty.
Bailey quickly assisted in equalizing the score for Villa by passing the ball to Moreno at the back post. Tensions started to rise, especially between Frank and Villa’s set-piece coach, Austin MacPhee. The fact that Villa’s winning goal came from a corner likely exacerbated Frank’s frustration. Jacob Ramsey took the corner kick, and Kamara’s back-heel pass was met by Watkins’ header, resulting in a goal celebration that was atypical for him, which he later had to clarify. Despite a tense finish, Villa’s dream of victory remains alive.
Source: theguardian.com
