Aston Villa orchestrated a dramatic comeback against Brentford, fueled by a pivotal turning point in the match – the red card issued to Bees defender Ben Mee.
Keane Lewis-Potter initiated the scoring for the hosts, seizing an opportunity at the end of the first half by threading a shot through a congested penalty area following Villa’s inability to clear a corner from the left.
The game took a decisive turn in the 71st minute when Ben Mee was shown a red card for a diving challenge that caught Leon Bailey on the ankle.
Referee David Coote, positioned nearby, initially issued a yellow card to Mee. However, after a review by video assistant referee Craig Pawson, Coote revisited the incident and upgraded the penalty to a red card.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank expressed fury over the decision, resulting in him receiving a booking. Capitalizing on the player advantage, Villa made their move six minutes later.
Leon Bailey’s cross found the mark as Alex Moreno headed in the equalizer at the back post, and the comeback was complete when Ollie Watkins secured a dramatic 85th-minute winner from Boubacar Kamara’s flick-on.
Adding to the intensity of the match, Kamara was subsequently sent off for pushing Yehor Yarmoliuk’s face in stoppage time, and Villa boss Unai Emery received a caution.
Ugly Confrontations Could Spell Trouble for Both Teams
As tensions flared in the closing stages of the match, both Brentford and Aston Villa may face disciplinary action from the Football Association. The unpleasant incidents included a red card for each team, with six Brentford players and four Villa players booked, along with cautions for both managers.
Ollie Watkins, formerly of Brentford, stirred controversy by celebrating his winning goal inside the goalpost, pointing at a supporter who may have been verbally abusive. This action led to a scuffle initiated by Brentford’s Saman Ghoddos, prompting involvement from players on both sides.
Far-fetched scenes unfolded between Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Brentford forward Neal Maupay. A misjudged backpass by Bailey nearly resulted in an own goal, leading to a collision between Maupay and Martinez, generating further confrontations.
Martinez and Maupay were once again at the center of an incident, this time involving an apparent overreaction from the Brentford forward. Martinez attempted to lift Maupay off the ground forcefully, triggering a pushing match between players from both teams. Boubacar Kamara’s red card came as he shoved the face of substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk.
In a fiery conclusion to the encounter, Villa boss Unai Emery, seemingly intervening in the incident, received a caution.
