EPL: Ollie Watkins scores brace to rescue point for Aston Villa

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins scores against Brentford REUTERS/Carl Recine

Ollie Watkins rescued a late point for Aston Villa who had earlier surrendered a two-goal lead against Brentford in the Premier League.

Forward Watkins gave Villa a 39th-minute advantage, meeting John McGinn’s cross with a powerful header which just squeezed over the line.

And Morgan Rogers doubled the hosts’ lead 32 seconds after the restart with a fine, low finish into the bottom corner.

But Brentford responded with three goals in nine second-half minutes. First, Mikkel Damsgaard’s cross deflected in off Mathias Jorgensen’s foot just before the hour mark.

Two minutes later the Bees levelled when Bryan Mbeumo volleyed in Sergio Reguilon’s cross.

And Brentford went in front in the 68th minute when Yoana Wissa tapped in Reguilon’s low delivery across goal.

Watkins denied the visitors a first win in nine matches though, heading in the equaliser with 10 minutes remaining.

Ollie Watkins scores goal against Brentford Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Villa remain fourth, three points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, having played two matches more. Brentford drop to 16th, six points clear of the bottom three.

The England striker not only has the most goal involvements (goals and assists) in the Premier League this season, his 28 goal involvements is the most in a single season for a Villa player, overtaking Dwight Yorke’s tally in the 1995-96 campaign.

Aston Villa v Brentford Photo Courtesy: CNA

He was badly missed in Aston Villa’s 4-1 loss to Manchester City on Wednesday. And his productive return from a minor hamstring injury was one positive for Villa on Saturday.

Unai Emery’s side will be without Douglas Luiz for their next two league matches, after the midfielder picked up a 10th yellow card of the season late on.

Villa host Lille in the Europa League on Thursday, before travelling to Arsenal in the Premier League three days later.

 

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