ASTON VILLA DRAW 2-2 WITH BRENTFORD AT VILLA PARK

Aston Villa drew 2-2 with Brentford at Villa Park, extending the club's wait for a home win since the stadium's redevelopment left the ground with only three stands in use. Brentford took the lead when Yehor Yarmolyuk scored after Jaidon Anthony pressured Tyrone Mings into a loose pass. Villa equalised 88 seconds later through Nicolas Jackson, who finished unmarked from six yards after Emi Buendía's shot deflected into his path. John McGinn then put Villa ahead with a shot that cannoned in off Brentford's Kristoffer Ajer. Ajer levelled two minutes later, beating three defenders before scoring with a shot that also deflected, this time off Victor Lindelöf.

Ajer had spent part of the recent international break fielding questions about his Norway teammate Erling Haaland, according to the report. He was booked late in the match for questioning a decision by the referee, Craig Pawson, who drew criticism from both sets of supporters. Villa's head coach, Unai Emery, had previously described the team's display in a home defeat by Nottingham Forest as "very shit". Brentford's El Hadji Malick Diouf supplied deliveries from left-back that troubled Villa's defence, while the Brazil striker Igor Thiago remained a constant threat for the visitors.

Brentford remained unbeaten in the league this season following the draw, according to the report. The result also maintained an unbeaten record for Brentford's head coach, Keith Andrews, against Emery across four meetings between the two sides. Brentford continued to push for a winning goal in the closing stages, with Diouf and Thiago both creating further chances. Villa could not add to their tally, and the match finished level at 2-2.