by Layth Yousif at the Brentford Community Stadium

IT WAS was honours even after Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz’s late equaliser cancelled out Ivan Toney’s strike in front of 17,098 at the Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Unai Emery’s visitors came into the clash having won their previous five matches but the draw left them five points behind fourth-placed Newcastle, who now have two games in hand, as Villa missed an opportunity to advance their claim for a Champions League spot.

Brentford ended a run of three defeats on the bounce, and winless in five, but will feel it was two points dropped after a dominant second-half display.

Toney tested keeper Emi Martinez 10 minutes before the interval when Kevin Schade played in the England striker following a driving run from Bryan Mbeumo.

Late April sunshine arrived for the second half and Brentford upped the fervour. Substitute Frank Onyeka tested Martinez’s half-time replacement Robin Olsen.

Schade then angled a shot just past the post, after he initially met Mbeumo’s long ball with a header that Olsen could only parry.

The impressive Mbeumo once again sent an inviting cross into the Villa box that Toney met perfectly on the half-volley to slot home from close range, to deservedly put Brentford 1-0 up on 65 minutes.

But Villa refused to be beaten, with Luiz slotting home from close range on 87 minutes after the Bees failed to clear their lines.

“Brentford made it difficult,” reflected Emery after the match. “I told the players I’m so happy with this draw because it was difficult. We can play better.”