Aston Villa 2-2 Brentford: Ajer snatches late point after McGinn goal

Kristoffer Ajer’s late equaliser ensured Brentford maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season as they came from behind to earn a point in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.

The Bees went ahead in the 10th minute when Yehor Yarmoliuk thumped a half-volley into the net from just inside the box after a half-cleared cross. Villa responded almost immediately, Nicolas Jackson finishing from close range just 88 seconds later after Emiliano Buendia’s effort took a deflection.

Both sides created chances either side of half-time, with Caoimhin Kelleher producing a fine double save to deny Jackson and John McGinn, while Zion Suzuki turned away a Kevin Schade volley after the break. The game appeared to be drifting towards a stalemate until the closing stages exploded into life.

McGinn thought he had secured Villa’s first home league win of the campaign when his shot took a heavy deflection off Ajer and nestled in the far corner on 77 minutes. But Brentford hit back just two minutes later. Jaidon Anthony found the advancing Ajer, who strode into the box and drilled a low finish past the goalkeeper to restore parity.

Ajer’s goal completed a remarkable personal contribution on the afternoon, having earlier been involved in the deflection that put Villa ahead. The result extended Brentford’s unbeaten run to six matches while prolonging Villa’s wait for a first home league victory under Unai Emery this season, though the hosts did claim their first point at Villa Park.