Villa throw away two-goal lead to draw with Brentford

Brentford threw a spanner in the works of Aston Villa's quest to finish in the Premier League's 'Top Four', as the Bees came back from two goals down to record a 3-3 draw at Villa Park on Saturday. 

Starting the day two points ahead of Spurs in fourth, hosts Villa knew that a victory over the Bees would consolidate their 'Top Four' credentials and the Midlanders looked to make a characteristically fast start to the contest. 

No team has scored more goals than Villa (25) in the opening half an hour of Premier League games this season, but Unai Emery's side were repelled by their organised visitors in the early stages. 

In fact, Brentford arguably started sharper, forward Bryan Mbeumo - making his first start since December - drifting a free-kick into the side netting that momentarily tricked the away fans into celebrations that were quickly mocked by the locals. 

Villa had engineered some dangerous situations, but they had to wait until the 39th minute to break the deadlock - Ollie Watkins heading home a John McGinn cross that was clawed out by Brentford keeper Mark Flekken, but only after it had crossed the line. 

Half-time: Villa 1-0 Brentford

The hosts emerged from the break with a spring in their step and they were 2-0 up within 90 seconds. 

January signing Morgan Rogers had offered attacking spark before the break and the former Man City academy graduate did excellently to create space in the box and drive home a low left-footed finish into the corner of Brentford's net. 

The game looked to have passed Brentford by, but Thomas Frank's side have shown some grit in their recent draws with Manchester United and Brighton and they turned the game on its head with three quick fire goals. 

First, centre-back Zanka deflected a Mikkel Damsgaard cross past Emiliano Martinez to reduce the deficit before Bees danger man Mbeumo equalised with a right-foot volley after more good work from Sergio Reguilon down the visitors' left flank. 

On 67 minutes it was 3-2 to Brentford when Reguilon's lovely cross was turned in by Yoane Wissa inside the six yard box. 

Villa manager Emery had his head in his hands, but his centre-forward Watkins wasn't finished - the England international nodding home a Leon Bailey cross around the 80 minute mark to drag the hosts back into the game against his former club. 

It was breathless stuff that continued into seven minutes of additional time - Brentford having thrown on Ivan Toney despite the striker carrying the muscle injury that had preventing him starting the game. 

No match winner lay in store, however, and the reaction of Villa's players at the final whistle gave every indication that they felt they had lost two points, as opposed to winning one.