- Aston Villa came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 in the Premier League
- Alex Moreno and Ollie Watkins scored the goals after Bees were reduced to 10
- Is there enormous pressure now on Newcastle to finish in the top four? Listen to the debate about It all starts
To lead a team to the title, a manager needs excellent players, a ruthless style of play and a brilliant tactical mind. However, none of this is enough without a good dose of luck at the right times.
After 70 minutes, Aston Villa trailed Keane Lewis-Potter's first-half goal and showed few signs of Brentford being in trouble. Then Ben Mee launched himself at Leon Bailey and was shown a red card after a VAR check – the appropriate punishment for such a dangerous lunge.
That gave Unai Emery and Villa the opening they needed. Alex Moreno equalized six minutes later and five minutes before the end of normal time, Ollie Watkins scored the winner against his former club and Villa had passed an important test as they chased down Arsenal and Liverpool.
Watkins' angry celebration led to the chaotic scenes and more than 12 minutes of stoppage time that saw Boubacar Kamara sent off for Villa and will surely bring an FA fine for both Brentford and the visitors. Watkins said he pointed to a fan he said was abusing his family.
Emery will be happy with the result, but knows his side got away with it. Without their midfield helmsman Douglas Luiz, who was missing through suspension, the Villa ship drifted. Their passing lacked imagination and their high defensive line was exposed by Brentford's fast balls into space.
Unai Emery's Aston Vila came from behind to beat Brentford and maintain their good form
Yes, Villa were missing Luiz and Lucas Digne – also ruled out – and Youri Tielemans, along with long-term absentees Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia. But Brentford were also hardly at full strength, with Mathias Jensen, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney unavailable, and have now lost five of their last six games.
However, Villa is having a tough time outdoors against teams that are deep. This was their club record 25th top-flight victory in a calendar year, but Emery is so demanding that he will be desperate to do better in the circumstances. It was similar at Nottingham Forest last month, where there was no change of pace and Villa lost 2-0.
“They were very intense and after the red card we had more opportunities to get into their penalty area,” Emery said. “We were adapting because Brentford didn't have any key players, but they play with the same spirit and intensity anyway. We stayed calm and came back well.
“We went crazy after the winner due to different circumstances, but I am very happy with the way we competed.”
Villa had started well but should have been behind in the eighth minute when Diego Carlos' poor ball fell perfectly for Mikkel Damsgaard, after which Emi Martinez produced a fine stop.
There were glimpses on both sides, even if the game was rarely fluid. Brentford wanted a penalty when John McGinn collided with Mee in the penalty area. Villa broke quickly and Moreno was denied. Matty Cash hit Pau Torres' cross wide and Jacob Ramsey sliced Watkins' knockdown past the post.
Brentford struck when Watkins' attempt to clear Saman Ghoddos' corner saw the ball fall for Lewis-Potter, who sneaked past the dozing Moreno to slot the ball home.
Villa may have had a man advantage early in the second half when McGinn took Christian Norgaard's boot on his shin and Achilles tendon. Referee David Coote only opted for a booking.
Kamara sent a free header wide from McGinn's corner and Moreno had to prevent Mads Roerslev from curling in Carlos' mishit backpass. Martinez then produced another super stop to prevent Yoane Wissa's header from close range.
Brentford's task suddenly became more difficult. It flew to substitute Bailey, who had only just come on, and Coote improved his yellow card to red. It was not in keeping with Brentford's precise performance and it soon cost them, although Frank was confident his side should have been awarded a penalty when Konsa charged at Neal Maupay.
McGinn slid the ball wide of Bailey and the Jamaican played a pitching wedge to the far post where Moreno headed in his first Premier League goal. Emery sensed victory and departed center back Pau Torres for striker Nicolo Zaniolo with nine minutes remaining.
Four minutes later it paid off, as Zaniolo won a corner. Ramsey's delivery wasn't perfect, but Kamara's back heel made it a beauty and Watkins headed past Mark Flokken.
That should have been that, but Watkins was clearly upset by something uttered by the fans behind the goal and ran into the net, appearing to point at a person in the crowd. That led to the obligatory pushing and wrestling session and it took some time before Coote was able to restore order.
In ten minutes of stoppage time, Bailey almost scored one of the best own goals with a back pass from just inside his own half that crept past the post. Brentford were already aware of Martinez's behavior and when the Argentinian grabbed a lying Maupay by the shirt, the fuse blew. Kamara was quickly sent off as he appeared to move his head towards Yehor Yarmoliuk, but Villa held on.