Unai Emery’s Aston Villa suffered a significant dent in their pursuit of Champions League football this weekend, falling to a shock home defeat against Brentford. It was an afternoon of high drama at Villa Park where, despite holding a numerical advantage for the entire second half, the hosts were unable to break down a resilient Bees side.
A Moment of Madness
The match turned chaotic shortly before the interval, centring on a bizarre meltdown from Brentford’s German forward, Kevin Schade. Having been brought down by a firm tackle from Matty Cash, the 22-year-old completely lost his composure. As he attempted to return to his feet, Schade lashed out, appearing to kick the Villa defender in the stomach.
After reviewing the footage on the pitch-side monitor, the referee had no option but to brandish a straight red card for violent conduct. Schade now faces a lengthy suspension, a headache his manager could do without in the coming weeks.
The Sting in the Tail
Logic dictated that Villa would go on to dominate, yet the dismissal seemed to galvanise the visitors. Deep into first-half stoppage time, rather than crumbling, Brentford launched a lightning-quick counter-attack. Dango Ouattara provided the finish, silencing the Holte End and sending the ten men into the break with an unlikely lead.
Villa emerged for the second half with renewed urgency, laying siege to the Brentford goal. Dominating possession, the home side camped in the opposition half but struggled to dismantle the visitors’ low block. They thought they had found a breakthrough when summer arrival Tammy Abraham found the net, but the celebrations were cut short. A VAR intervention ruled that the ball had crossed the byline in the build-up, and the goal was chalked off. It summed up a frustrating afternoon where Emery’s men simply couldn’t find the answers, handing Brentford a massive three points in their own push for European qualification.
A Timely Boost in Defence
While the result leaves a bitter taste regarding the league standings, there is a significant silver lining for the Villans regarding their defensive options. Tyrone Mings has returned to full training, finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel after a gruelling 384-day layoff.
The commanding centre-back had been sidelined since the opening weekend of last season, having suffered a devastating ACL injury during the 5-1 defeat at Newcastle United. His rehabilitation has been managed carefully, and his return is a testament to his professionalism. Before the injury, the 31-year-old was instrumental under Emery, starting all but one of the Spaniard’s first 25 league matches in charge.
“An Easy Sell”
Speaking to VillaTV earlier this month, Mings expressed his relief at being back on the grass. “I’m super excited to get back playing, to see what the season holds,” he said. despite his long absence, he has remained a vocal supporter of the squad’s progress, particularly their top-four finish last term. “I’m so proud of the players… to be part of it this season will be a special, special moment.”
Mings also heaped praise on the culture change at the club during his recovery. “The manager has been first class,” he added. “It’s so exciting as a player; for a player thinking of coming to Villa, it’s such an easy sell. Everything is gearing towards being a successful period in Villa’s history.”
With the defence looking vulnerable against Brentford, Mings’ imminent return to the matchday squad cannot come soon enough for Emery.
