Egan strikes late to earn Bees point at Villa

Aston Villa 1 Brentford 1

John Egan grabbed a late equaliser as Brentford took a deserved point from their first trip to Villa Park in 63 years.

Jonathan Kodjia opened the scoring for Aston Villa with a powerful drive from inside the box on 19 minutes.

But Brentford had chances at the end of a busy first half and also had good possession after the break, putting their nervy hosts under pressure.

And it paid off when substitute Sulley Kaikai sent in a cross to the far post that Egan converted via a deflection.

Initially the difference between the sides was Kodjia, who scored 19 goals for Bristol City last season before a big-money move to Villa.

He forced an early save from Brentford keeper Dan Bentley but finally beat him after cutting in from the right, shrugging off Andreas Bjelland and lashing in a shot from 15 yards.

Rudy Gestede had a couple of good chances to make it 2-0 but, as half-time neared, the Bees were the better side, with Scott Hogan’s shot claimed low down by Pierluigi Gollini and Josh Clarke firing over after Nico Yennaris’ effort was blocked.

They began well after the break too, with Hogan forcing Gollini into a save with his foot from an acute angle.

Villa seemed disconcerted by changes forced upon them by injuries to former Fulham striker Ross McCormack and right-back Ritchie De Laet, with the Bees keeping the ball well despite not creating too many chances.

Bentley saved from a Kodjia shot 10 minutes from time but the goal Brentford’s enterprising play merited came with two minutes to play, with Egan’s effort going in off a Villa defender.

There was still time for Ryan Woods to go close to winning it, but his 25-yard shot was tipped over by Gollini.

Brentford: Bentley; Colin, Dean, Egan, Bjelland; Yennaris (McEachran 83), Woods; Clarke (Kaikai 57), Sawyers, MacLeod (Vibe 76); Hogan.
Subs not used: Bonham, Barbet, McCormack, Saunders.