FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Brentford v Aston Villa - Brentford Community Stadium, London, Britain - December 17, 2023 Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez clashes with Brentford's Nathan Collins as manager Unai Emery and teammates intervene Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo
Report and free match clips as Aston Villa threw away a 2-0 lead following goals from Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers; Brentford led 3-2 through Zanka, Bryan Mbeumo, and Yoane Wissa with 10 minutes to go before Watkins popped up with a late header
Villa were on top early in the second half as Morgan Rogers, who scored his first goal for the club, extended his team’s lead following Ollie Watkins’ first-half header. The game was uneventful until Brentford scored a fortunate goal just before the hour.
Matthias Jorgensen kick-started the comeback by scoring with his standing leg, before Bryan Mbeumo volleyed in from close range a minute later. A shell-shocked Villa went to sleep for Brentford’s third as Yoane Wissa completed the turnaround.
Villa managed to wrestle their way back into the game and Watkins levelled with another header 10 minutes from time. Unai Emery’s side pushed for a winner, and perhaps would have got one if Ezri Konsa had better-timed his header in the 90th minute.
“I’m not belittling my team, I’m part of it. We need to somehow figure out when we’re 2-0 up how to shut up shop,” Watkins told BBC Sport.
“It’s frustrating. We lacked that big-team mentality where they kill games off which is really disappointing.”
Villa managed to wrestle their way back into the game and Watkins levelled with another header 10 minutes from time. Unai Emery’s side pushed for a winner, and perhaps would have got one if Ezri Konsa had better-timed his header in the 90th minute.
“I’m not belittling my team, I’m part of it. We need to somehow figure out when we’re 2-0 up how to shut up shop,” Watkins told BBC Sport.
