Canos injured as Bees draw at Villa
Aston Villa 0 Brentford 0
Brentford secured a deserved point that could easily have been three but had concerns again over Sergi Canos, whose return to the first team lasted just 33 minutes.
The Bees dominated large parts of the second half but were denied victory by three saves from Aston Villa’s on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
Neal Maupay also fired into the side netting but they were also thankful to their own keeper Daniel Bentley, who made a superb block from James Chester late on.
Although they went goalless for the fourth time in six games, the Bees used the ball with confidence and defended solidly, as they made light of their poor early-season results and the departures of key players Harlee Dean, Maxime Colin and Jota.
Canos, who took Jota’s place in the team for his first appearance of the season, went down with another ankle injury after giving away a foul and was replaced by Josh Clarke.
Villa, despite being at home, were happy to hit on the break and had earlier gone close through Josh Onomah, who poked wide of the near post.
Maupay managed in the first half what he was to repeat in the second, firing into the side netting from an acute angle.
The fact they were keeping Villa at arm’s length gave Brentford the confidence to come out and attack after the break, and they looked like taking the lead when Clarke was sent clear, only for Johnstone to block with his leg.
The home keeper later produced saves to twice keep out efforts from Ollie Watkins, before Bentley’s crucial intervention at the other end, while Yoann Barbet produced an excellent challenge on Ahmed Elmohamady.
Former Bees striker Scott Hogan came on for Villa but offered little as the home side could not break down the well-organised Brentford defence.
Brentford: Bentley; Dalsgaard, Egan, Barbet, Henry (Bjelland 89); Woods, Yennaris; Canos (Clarke 33), Sawyers, Watkins; Maupay (Shaibu 85).
Subs not used: Daniels, Chatzitheodoridis, Mokotjo, Jozefzoon.
