Aston Villa and Brentford provided a chaotic, enthralling second half as the Villans stayed hot with a 2-1 comeback win over the 10-man Bees at Brentford Community Stadium.
Villa would finish with 10 men, too, as Boubacar Kamara was given a red card in a tumultuous finish, as Emiliano Martinez and Neal Maupay staged a multi-act clownish game.
Keane Lewis-Potter gave Brentford a halftime lead, but Alex Moreno leveled the score moments after Ben Mee was sent off for Brentford following a VAR review. That left Brentford shorthanded in two ways, already without Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo.
WATCH BRENTFORD vs ASTON VILLA FULL MATCH REPLAY STREAM
Former Brentford man Ollie Watkins then put Villa in front. but his celebration inside the goal soon led to a dozen or so players scrapping inside the netting.
Watkins was booed the rest of the way, but he’s leaving with a win and second place on the table before Liverpool hosts Manchester United later Sunday.
The Villans have 38 points, one fewer than victorious Arsenal and one more than Liverpool. Brentford remains the best of three teams on 19 points and sit 12th.
Villa win ugly as Watkins now Villan and a villain
Aston Villa’s win was a very entertaining one, but fines will likely be coming to both teams after frustrations boiled over and left a mess all over the kitchen.
Ollie Watkins, a seemingly beloved former Bee, provided the go-ahead goal for Villa against his 10-man old friends. Watkins celebrated against his old club, but it was more about the location of the party, as Sam Ghoddos and then several teammates took great offense to Watkins and his teammates’ setting up shop inside the Bees’ goal.
Tempers stayed hot as Villa’s Emiliano Martinez flopped to the turf after Neal Maupay ran past him to pick up a corner kick, and a second incident saw Martinez somehow evade a red card for trying to pick up a prone Maupay by the shirt with two hands. The incident saw Boubacar Kamara sent off in the aftermath.
It was embarrassing for Martinez and not a great moment for Watkins, who tried to explain himself to Bees boss Thomas Frank after the match. It did not appear to go over very well.
Villa’s very good, and this colors what should be a great discussion about the Villa’s rallying to strengthen their surprising title case.
What’s next?
Brentford’s next game was set to be at Man City, but was postponed with City off to the Club World Cup. The Bees will prepare for a Wolves visit on Dec. 27 (Wednesday).
Villa hosts Sheffield United on Friday, then goes to Man United on Boxing Day.
Brentford vs Aston Villa final score: 1-2
Goal: Lewis-Potter (45'), Moreno (77'), Watkins (85')
Red cards: Mee (71'), Kamara (90+7')
Brentford vs Aston Villa player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Ollie Watkins goal (video)
The former Bee has made it 2-1, pounding a header home off a cross from the left.
He’s celebrating inside the goal, not vividly, with his teammates and Brentford’s taken offense. Sam Ghoddos gets involved and then a host of others end up inside the netting. The groudskeeper is gonna be unhappy.
Alex Moreno goal (video)
Villa’s level!
Ben Mee red card (video)
Ben Mee has been sent off for the first time since 2012-13 season — when he was 22 and with Burnley in the Championship.
It wouldn’t have happened then, because Mee was initially shown yellow but VAR has intervened and a look at the pitchside screen changes things.
Brentford will have to deal with some 10v11 play 20 minutes plus stoppage.
HALFTIME: Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
The Bees don’t have the horses, at the moment, to play at full effectiveness versus Villa, and Thomas Frank’s men are set back a bit but still very active. There have been typical Brentford flourishes even in their own end, though, and it’s a surprise but not a shock to see the Bees go in front before the break.
Keane Lewis-Poitter’s goal shakes up the first half numbers, so let’s have a look at how things looked before stoppage time:
The visitors were ascendant, with 62% of the ball and 0.77-0.21 in xG. Villa’s taken eight of the game’s nine shots, putting two on frame, though a Bees counterattack that was offside flashed the greatest danger of the game.
The Bees finish 45 minutes with37% of the ball, 0.42 xG, and three shot attempts.
All to play for here at Brentford Community Stadium.
Keane Lewis-Potter goal (video)
It’s against the possession numbers but not entirely unforeseen as Brentford’s played about as stylishly as a club can play while packed-in against a superior opponent.
Keane Lewis-Potter’s playing up top with Yoane Wissa and he arrives into the box to meet set piece service with a fine low finish through traffic.
1-0 to the Bees.
How to watch Brentford vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 9am ET, Sunday (Dec. 17)
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Stream Premier League on Peacock
Brentford lineup
🐝 Your Bees line-up this afternoon 👊#BREAVL | #BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/ekRoCMv95o
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 17, 2023
Aston Villa lineup
Representing Aston Villa today! 👊 pic.twitter.com/8yE48CBchH
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 17, 2023
Brentford focus, team news
OUT: Bryan Mbeumo (ankle), Ivan Toney (suspension), Rico Henry (torn ACL - out for season), Kevin Schade (adductor), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Kristofer Ajer (foot), Josh Dasilva (hamstring), Mathias Jensen (adductor) | QUESTIONABLE: Nathan Collins (ankle)
Aston Villa focus, team news
OUT: Emiliano Buendia (torn ACL - out for season), Tyrone Mings (torn ACL - out for season), Bertrand Traore (undisclosed), Lucas Digne (suspended), Douglas Luiz (suspended), Robin Olsen (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Leon Bailey (undisclosed), Youri Tielemans (undisclosed)
