Brentford 1-1 Aston Villa

Aston Villa stretched their unbeaten run to nine Premier League games after fighting back to draw against Brentford.

The home side upped their game after a cagey first half and took the lead when Ivan Toney slammed home after 65 minutes.

Villa, who lost Emi Martínez at half-time, struck back with three minutes to play when Douglas Luiz buried an effort from close range.

The Brazilian whistled an outrageous long-range effort just wide in injury time, but the Villans settled for a point that keeps them sixth in the table.

Unai Emery saw no need to change the starting XI from last weekend’s statement win against Newcastle United, and the head coach saw his side impose themselves early on against the Bees.

Emiliano Buendía’s crafty effort with the outside of his right boot almost snuck inside David Raya’s near post with less than two minutes on the clock.

The visitors were dictating the tempo and enjoying more possession, but they were indebted to a last-ditch sliding tackle from Álex Moreno to deny Brian Mbeumo a tap-in at the back post.

Brentford’s stellar season has been built upon a strong home record, and the hosts were seemingly unfazed by their five-game winless run.

However, their resistance was almost broken 38 minutes in when John McGinn took aim from outside the box and curled a dipping shot just past Raya’s far post.

Martínez, who had shown few signs of struggling in the first 45 minutes, was replaced by Robin Olsen for the start of the second half, and the Swede was quickly involved in the game.

Kevin Schade raced onto Mbeumo’s lofted through ball and flicked a header goalwards. His initial effort was parried by Olsen, with the striker quickly gathering the loose ball and firing wide of an empty net.

Mounting pressure from the home side eventually told after 65 minutes when a driven cross from Mbeumo was slammed home by Toney at the far post.

Emery responded by making a triple change, bringing on Bertrand Traore, Lucas Digne and Calum Chambers. Their impact began to turn the tide, and shortly after Jacob Ramsey burst into the box before clipping a shot over the bar.

Brentford sunk deeper with each passing minute and were eventually punished when Villa equalised in the closing minutes.

Buendía did well to control a cross from Digne before putting the ball on a plate for Luiz to fire home from close range.

The offside flag saved Villa after Bees substitute Wissa had coolly slotted past Olsen before the away side set about finding a winner.

A long-range shot from Luiz whistled narrowly wide and Ollie Watkins headed the final chance of the game over the bar as the visitors settled for a point.