Aston Villa rejoice after victory over Brentford as angry Ollie Watkins’ goal proves the decider in ugly affair… as visitors ride their luck after both sides see red

• Aston Villa came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 in the Premier League 
• Alex Moreno and Ollie Watkins scored the goals after Bees were reduced to 10
• Is there now huge pressure on Newcastle to finish in the top four? Listen to the debate on It’s All Kicking Off

To lead a team to a title, a manager needs excellent players, a ruthless manner and a brilliant tactical mind. None of this is enough, though, without a huge dollop of luck at the right times.

After 70 minutes, Aston Villa was trailing Brentford 1-0 due to a goal by Keane Lewis-Potter in the first half and was not showing many indications of breaking them down. Then, following a VAR check, Ben Mee lunged at Leon Bailey and was shown a red card, which was the appropriate punishment for such a risky move.

That provided Villa and Unai Emery with the opening they required. Six minutes

later, Alex Moreno tied the score. Five minutes before the end of regulation

time, Ollie Watkins defeated his old team to win the match, and Villa had

successfully completed a crucial test as they pursue Arsenal and Liverpool.

Watkins’ irate celebration set off a chain of events that included more than 12 minutes of stoppage time, Boubacar Kamara’s dismissal for Villa, and will undoubtedly result in an FA charge for Brentford as well as the visiting team. Watkins claimed he was gesturing to a fan who he thought was mistreating his family.

Although he knows his team got away with one, Emery will be happy with the outcome. The Villa ship was adrift without their midfield helmsman, Douglas Luiz, who was absent due to suspension. Their passing lacked creativity, and Brentford’s fast balls into space exposed their high defensive line.

Yes, Villa was lacking long-term absentees Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia, as well as banned players Luiz

and Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans. However, Brentford was far from fully

functional as well, having missed five of their previous six games due to injuries

to Mathias Jensen, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, Bryan Mbeumo, and Ivan Toney.

On the road, though, Villa easily dispatches of deep-seated opponents.

This was their club’s all-time high of 25 victories in the top division within a

single year, but Emery is so demanding that he will be driven to improve in these

situations. Similar circumstances occurred at Nottingham Forest last

month, where Villa fell 2-0 without a game-changing moment.

“They were really intense, and we had more ways to enter their box after the red card,” Emery remarked. Despite

Brentford’s lack of key players, they play with the same enthusiasm and intensity,

so we had to adjust. We returned with grace and dignity.

“Due to various circumstances, we went crazy after the winner, but I’m really proud of the way we competed.”

Villa had made a strong start, but Mikkel Damsgaard should have taken the lead in the eighth minute after Diego Carlos’ clumsy clearance, but Emi Martinez made a great save.

Though the game was rarely fluid, there were moments on both sides. After Mee and John McGinn tangled inside the box, Brentford demanded a penalty. Villa quickly broke, and Moreno was stopped. Watkins’ knockdown was hacked beyond the post by Jacob Ramsey, while Matty Cash volleyed Pau Torres’ cross wide.

Watkins attempted to clear Saman Ghoddos’ corner, but the ball fell to Lewis-Potter, who slipped past the sleeping Moreno and stabbed home to give Brentford the lead.

Early in the second half, McGinn received Christian Norgaard’s boot to his shin and achilles, which may have given Villa a man advantage. David Coote, the referee, chose to just issue a booking.

Kamara put a free header wide from McGinn’s corner and Moreno had to stop Mads Roerslev turning home Carlos’ mis-hit backpass. Then Martinez produced another super stop to keep out Yoane Wissa’s close-range header.

Brentford’s task suddenly became harder. Mee flew at substitute Bailey, who had only just come on, and Coote upgraded his yellow card to a red. It was out of keeping with Brentford’s precise performance and soon it cost them, though Frank was sure his side should have had a spot-kick when Konsa barged over Neal Maupay.

McGinn slid the ball wide to Bailey and the Jamaican played a pitching wedge to the far post where Moreno headed in his first Premier League goal. Emery sensed a win and took off centre back Pau Torres for attacker Nicolo Zaniolo with nine minutes left.

It rewarded off four minutes later when Zaniolo won a corner. Watkins headed past Mark Flekken after Kamara’s back heel converted Ramsey’s shoddy delivery into a masterpiece.

That ought to have been the end of it, but Watkins appeared to point out a specific person in the crowd as he rushed into the net, obviously incensed by something spoken by the supporters behind the goal. That resulted in the customary shoving and grappling match, and it took some time for Coote to get things back to normal.

Bailey almost scored one of the greatest own goals ever with a backpass from just inside his own half that slipped under the post ten minutes into stoppage time.

The Argentine’s actions had already set Brentford off, and when he grabbed a comatose Maupay by the shirt, the fuse blew. Villa held on, but Kamara quickly turned red for appearing to turn his head in the direction of Yehor Yarmoliuk.