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<\/p>\nOllie Watkins\u00a0made a controversial return to Brentford as he celebrated a late winner for Aston Villa with a celebration that sparked fury in the crowd and on the pitch.<\/p>\n
With five minutes of normal time remaining, Watkins put Villa 2-1 up and ran into the net, seeming to point towards a supporter behind the goal. It was unclear what had been said or done but Watkins was furious and his reaction set the tone for a violent end to the match, in which Boubacar Kamara was shown a straight red card when his head appeared to make contact with Yehor Yarmoliuk.<\/p>\n
That made it 10 players aside as Brentford defender Ben Mee had been dismissed midway through the second half, and Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez was perhaps lucky to escape similar fate for grabbing Neal Maupay by the shirt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Villa boss Unai Emery was also shown the yellow card as he tried to stop Martinez talking himself into more trouble. At full-time, Watkins \u2013 who joined Villa for \u00a333million in 2020 \u2013 appeared to be explaining his celebration to his former boss Thomas Frank.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Keane Lewis-Potter had given Brentford the lead shortly before half-time but then Mee was dismissed and Alex Moreno equalised not long afterwards. Then came Watkins\u2019 goal and that utterly chaotic climax \u2013 but these were three more vital points for Villa that keep them in the title race.<\/p>\n
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Without suspended duo Douglas Luiz and Lucas Digne and with Leon Bailey fit enough only for a place on the bench, John McGinn moved into central midfield with Alex Moreno back in the starting XI at left-back. Moreno had two decent chances in the opening five minutes, first squeezing through before finishing weakly, and then firing too high from 20 yards after a flick from Boubacar Kamara.<\/p>\n
Brentford (3-5-2) Flekken 6; Zanka 6.5, Pinnock 7.5, Mee 5; Roerslev 6.5 (Olakigbe 89), Damsgaard 6.5 (Onyeka 68, 6), Norgaard 7, Janelt 6.5 (Yarmoliuk 89), Ghoddos 7; Lewis-Potter 7 (Maupay 68, 6), Wissa 7 (Collins 76, 6). Subs not used: Strakosha, Goode, Peart-Harris, Baptiste.<\/p>\n
Scorers: Lewis-Potter 45<\/p>\n
Sent off: Mee<\/p>\n
Booked: Norgaard, Zanka, Ghoddos, Janelt, Onyeka, Frank<\/p>\n
Manager: Thomas Frank 6.5<\/p>\n
Aston Villa (4-4-2): Martinez 7.5; Konsa 6, D Carlos 7, Torres 7 (Zaniolo 81), Moreno 6.5; Cash 5 (Bailey 65, 6), Kamara 5, McGinn 7, Ramsey 6; Diaby 5.5 (Duran 65, 6), Watkins 7. Subs not used: Marschall, Chambers, Lenglet, Dendoncker, Iroegbunam, Proctor.<\/p>\n
Scorers: Moreno 77, Watkins 85<\/p>\n
Sent off: Kamara<\/p>\n
Booked: Konsa, Duran, Bailey, Martinez, Emery<\/p>\n
Manager: Unai Emery 7<\/p>\n
Referee: David Coote 5.5<\/p>\n
Attendance: 17,034<\/p>\n
Villa had started well but they should have been behind in the eighth minute. A poor piece of control from Matty Cash allowed Vitaly Janelt to cross from the left. When Diego Carlos\u2019 clearance fell perfectly for Mikkel Damsgaard 10 yards from goal, the Dane looked certain to score, only for Emi Martinez to produce a fine stop.<\/p>\n
Brentford wanted a penalty when McGinn tangled with Ben Mee inside the box. The appeals were rejected and Villa broke swiftly, with Moreno again denied by an important block from Zanka. Cash volleyed Pau Torres\u2019 cross wide at the far post and Jacob Ramsey sliced Ollie Watkins\u2019 knockdown past the post but by now Brentford were looking more dangerous.<\/p>\n
Villa\u2019s build-up was laboured and unimaginative and as soon as it broke down, Brentford challenged their high defensive line with quick passes over the top. Six minutes before the break, Damsgaard escaped into the space behind Ezri Konsa and his cross just eluded the sliding Yoane Wissa.<\/p>\n
Though Frank was frustrated at that, he was celebrating moments later. Watkins\u2019 tentative attempt to clear Saman Ghoddos\u2019 corner saw the ball drop mid-penalty box, where Lewis-Potter sneaked beyond the dozing Moreno to stab it through the crowd and beyond Martinez.<\/p>\n
The passage of play before the goal summed up Villa\u2019s predicament. Pau Torres ended a sterile spell of possession with an overhit crossfield pass which was intercepted by Ghoddos, who drew a foul from Moussa Diaby. The quick free-kick earned Brentford a corner as Wissa\u2019s shot hit Torres and flew wide \u2013 and they promptly took the lead.<\/p>\n
Needing to look livelier after the break, Villa might have had a man advantage early in the second half when McGinn took Norgaard\u2019s boot on his shin and Achilles. Referee David Coote opted only for a booking and there was no intervention from VAR. That was still to come.<\/p>\n
Villa were still struggling to threaten, though Kamara put a free header wide from McGinn\u2019s corner. At the other end, following a clever combination between Norgaard and Lewis-Potter, Moreno had to stop Mads Roerslev turning home Diego Carlos\u2019 mishit backpass. Then Martinez produced another vital stop to keep out Wissa\u2019s close-range header after Villa had nodded off again at a corner, allowing Damsgaard time to cross.<\/p>\n
Then Brentford\u2019s task became harder. Mee launched himself recklessly at substitute Leon Bailey, who had only just come on, and Coote upgraded his yellow card to a red. Frank was furious but Mee\u2019s studs were up and he caught Bailey on the shin. It was out of keeping with Brentford\u2019s precise performance and it soon cost them.<\/p>\n
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McGinn slid the ball wide to Bailey, the Jamaican played a pitching wedge to the far post where Moreno had made the extra man and the Spaniard headed in his first Premier League goal. Emery sensed a win and took off centre-back Torres for attacker Nicolo Zaniolo with nine minutes left.<\/p>\n
And four minutes later, it paid off as Zaniolo won a corner on the left. Ramsey\u2019s delivery was underhit but Kamara\u2019s delicious flick turned it into a beauty and Watkins headed it past Mark Flekken.<\/p>\n
That should have been that but Watkins had clearly been upset by something uttered from the fans behind the goal and ran into the net, appearing to point out an individual in the crowd. That led to the obligatory pushing and grappling session and it was some time before Coote could restore order.<\/p>\n
Into 10 minutes\u2019 added time, Bailey nearly scored one of the great own-goals with a backpass from just inside his own half that crept past the post as Martinez scrambled.<\/p>\n
Brentford were already ticking with Martinez\u2019s behaviour and when he clashed with Maupay the fuse blew. Kamara saw red for his clash with Yarmoliuk but Villa held on.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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