Brentford’s unbeaten start to the Premier League stretched to six matches as they battled from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, although that did extend their winless top-flight away run to eight matches.

2026/2027 Premier League

2-2

Match Report

It’s perhaps harsh to suggest Unai Emery is under pressure after a slow start to the season following Villa’s UEFA Europa League triumph last season, but it certainly felt that way here. That pressure intensified on 10 minutes, when after the Villa defence only half cleared El Hadji Malick Diouf’s cross, Yehor Yarmolyuk was on hand to steer Brentford ahead from the edge of the area. Their joy was only short-lived though, as the hosts hit back instantly - albeit in fortuitous circumstances - as Emi Buendia’s deflected effort fell perfectly for the unmarked Nicolas Jackson, who made no mistake in squeezing home a leveller. 

After that early flurry of goals, chances were largely at a premium, with neither side creating anything that could be considered clear-cut. Johan Manzambi had two opportunities for Villa, the first of which was blocked by Michael Kayode before Caoimhin Kelleher denied him on the follow-up, while Brentford’s Keane Lewis-Potter forced Zion Suzuki into action in the Villa goal as he saw an effort blocked at the near post.

Suzuki was the first stopper to be called into action after half-time too, getting down well to prevent Kevin Schade from re-establishing Brentford’s lead, shortly before Buendia rippled the side netting for the hosts. The diminutive Argentine was one of Emery’s bright sparks, and he so nearly fired the Villans ahead for the first time when his effort deflected off Kristoffer Ajer and bent just wide of the post. 

A game largely devoid of quality did at least spark into life in the closing stages. John McGinn must have thought he’d won it for Villa when his deflected effort nestled in the far corner on 77 minutes, but in almost identical circumstances to the first half, the lead lasted a matter of seconds. Ajer certainly isn’t famed for his goalscoring exploits, but he took his goal like a striker, marauding forward out of defence, striding into the area and powering home at the near post. Both teams will perhaps feel that on reflection a point was a fair result, though it did little to ease any building pressure on Emery.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

4' Match Event for Aston Villa vs Brentford

10' GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford (Yegor Yarmolyuk)

13' GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Brentford (Nicolas Jackson)


20' Match Event for Aston Villa vs Brentford

30' Match Event for Aston Villa vs Brentford

35' Highlight from Aston Villa vs Brentford

50' Match Event for Aston Villa vs Brentford

50' Match Event for Aston Villa vs Brentford

73' Highlight from Aston Villa vs Brentford

77' GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Brentford (John McGinn)


79' GOAL! Aston Villa 2-2 Brentford (Kristoffer Ajer)


Line-ups

Aston Villa XI: Lindelof, McGinn, Mings, Buendia, Kamara, Matty Cash, Zion Suzuki, Matteo Ruggeri, João Gomes, Nicolas Jackson, Johan Manzambi

Subs: Marco Bizot, Barkley, Abraham, P. Torres, Wan-Bissaka, Garnacho, Lamare Bogarde, Alysson, Mbaye

Brentford XI: Kristoffer Ajer, Kelleher, Janelt, Keane Lewis-Potter, Kevin Schade, Igor Thiago, Jaidon Anthony, Yegor Yarmolyuk, Michael Kayode, Jannik Schuster, El Hadji Malick Diouf

Subs: Callum Wilson, Mathias Jensen, Hákon Valdimarsson, Fabio Carvalho, Van den Berg, Aaron Hickey, Mamadou Sangaré, Dango Ouattara, Benjamin Fredrick