BIRMINGHAM — Aston Villa’s Premier League title aspirations suffered a significant setback following a contentious 1-0 defeat to Brentford at Villa Park on Sunday, despite the visitors playing over half the match with ten men.
The match’s pivotal moment arrived early in the second half when Tammy Abraham’s apparent equalizer, which would have marked a dream return to his former club, was disallowed after an extended Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. The technology determined the ball had exited play earlier in the attacking sequence, a decision that infuriated Villa manager Unai Emery.
Brentford’s match-winner came from Dango Ouattara, who capitalized on a narrow angle to score shortly after teammate Kevin Schade received a straight red card for kicking out at Villa defender Matty Cash. Even with a numerical disadvantage, Brentford’s resilient defense held firm, thwarting Villa’s attempts to find an equalizer.
Emery expressed his frustration post-match, stating, ‘I accept the decision, but for me, it is not fair. The problem is the VAR should not be intervening in this situation, especially so long after the action. If the assistant referee did not see it, we must continue playing. Brentford played fantastically with one player less.’
The result leaves Villa seven points behind league leaders Arsenal. While the title challenge now appears increasingly difficult, the immediate concern shifts to securing a top-five finish to guarantee qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League. Villa currently holds a seven-point cushion over sixth-placed Liverpool in the race for European football.