An utterly absorbing game of football between Brentford and Aston Villa saw the spoils shared following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the Tech.

Whilst the Bees will be left wondering how they didn’t secure the win, it was one of those games – against quite wonderfully organised opposition – that saw us playing at our most attacking and creative best.

The second half, in particular, saw Brentford create five or six really decent opportunities that, on another day, would have seen us end the game with more than just Ivan Toney’s 65th minute opener to celebrate.

Kevin Schade and Frank The Tank will have woken up on Sunday morning replaying their gilt edged opportunities back through the mind. In both instances it seemed easier to score than put it wide with the former, in particular, seeing the ‘keeper having been rounded and the goal wide open. Alas, not.

Composure? Experience? Just bad luck? Whatever the reasoning, it didn’t go in. Nor did Frank’s. Or Ivan’s. Or Bryan’s. When Wissa gave us the 90th minute winner, the offside flag intervened to deny us that wonderful moment of celebration.

That’s football. Take your chances or get punished. Despite all Brentford’s wonderful play and coming oh so close, a one goal lead is the slenderest of margin’s and we were eventually undone with just minutes left on the clock.

A butt-clenchingly long sequence of the visitors unable to turn it in and The Bees unable to clear it properly was eventually ended by Douglas Luiz. He found the space in the box to fire it in to the back of the net with Raya given no chance. Urghh. Brutal pay back for profligate Brentford.

There was no irony lost in the fact that the equaliser came just as the minute’s applause for Tony Sceats – universally loved and known amongst the fans as Mr ‘Push Up, Brentford’ – came to a close. The Bees neither pushing up or keeping it tight and, as such, paying the ultimate price.

Yet to be too downhearted would be harsh. Let’s look at the calibre of opposition. Unai Emery has made a mockery of Steven Gerrard’s attempt at managing Aston Villa. They’ve shot up the table and scored in every game he’s been a charge. There was an almost inevitability about that particular run continuing for a team who at one stage were contemplating relegation. Now they are making a really strong bid for European qualification.

Emery has them moving with fluidity and dynamism. Ollie Watkins is the obvious spearhead but one moment Buendia was alongside him. Then it was John McGinn. The team constantly switching. Adjusting. That man Buendia causing havoc with his runs through the middle. Jacob Ramsey a frightening talent to behold.

That Brentford nullified so much of this threat for so long is as much testament to those at the back and in the middle as anything else.

Truly, it was as compelling a game of football as they come with the only real shame being that we couldn’t, quite, hang on. Moreso given Fulham’s defeat of Lead United earlier in the day. The pleasure of Leeds falling apart, again, no real consolation for us being leap-frogged by the happy clappers from the Cottage. Foam fingers, anyone?

For The Bees, Europe is still on but it’s going to take a big push. We’re six points behind 7th (seventh) placed Liverpool with six games to play. That sequence starts at hapless Chelsea this Wednesday with Frank Lampard possibly the only man able to give Stevie G a run for his money in the ‘management isn’t as easy as it looks’ stakes.

That’s to come, of course. For now the regular post-match look at the top five from this game as well as continuing our season long quest to declare Brentford’s overall top performer. Whereas last week’s debacle at Molineux saw us scratching around for candidates, this is one where my shortlist of players is in double figures.

Matty Jensen misses out. Somehow. So does Aaron Hickey who had a stonking game and made his mark from the off. David Raya was as strong as ever, with his early save from Buendia letting the visitors know that, this time around, they weren’t going to have things their way.

I also thought Vitaly was brilliant in the middle. He’s vey much in my preferred core midfield trio alongside Jensen and Norgaard with Saturday’s game showing just why. At one point he was nailed in for points but with the personal running order chopping and changing every time I look at it, we need to settle on five. So here they are…..

Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 32 (vs Aston Villa)

1st (Star Player: 5 points) – Bryan Mbeumo
This was just another of those amazing Mbeumo games. He didn’t score, although perhaps might be thinking he should have. Yet for me the performance was all about the creativity. About opening up an Aston Villa team who had not come to give us an easy afternoon.

It was Bryan who made the goal for Ivan. David Raya’s distribution finding Mbeumo who delivered a laser guided cross over the entire defence straight to Ivan at the back stick. It was as beautiful a cross as one could ever hope to see. Precision and placement going hand-in-hand like newly weds walking down the aisle. Thankfully it was met with the finish it deserved.

Yet it wasn’t just that one. Prior to the goal, he’d dropped it straight on to Schade’s head for the goal that never came. After that, it was his ball across that saw Frank Onyeka get it wrapped up in his feet and bundled wide rather than into the back of the net. Less tank and more first touch of a JCB on this occasion.

Those aside, it was just the danger all afternoon. The positional awareness. The balls through to release team mates or making the space for himself. Almost everything he touched was golden, barring the back of the net. Even then, did more than enough to scoop the star player by a country mile

2nd (4 points) – Ivan Toney
The finish for his goal was just exquisite. Again, the timing and positional awareness showed his predatory instincts are only getting sharper and sharper. To ghost in at the far post completely unseen is one thing. To then hit it first time, straight back in the direction from which it had come and through replacement ‘keeper Olsen’s legs was even more impressive.

It was going to take something special to penetrate this defence. This, something Ivan had discovered earlier following his wonderful interplay with Bryan and Schade to create a chance for himself that world Cup winning goalie Emi Martinez smothered quite brilliantly.

Then there was the overhead kick that went just wide. The early opening for Bryan that came to nothing. The relentless workrate and interplay as part of a front three that could be something very special in the future.

This was Ivan giving it his all and loving his football. A cracking performance.

3rd (3 points) – Ethan Pinnock
I was half-expecting an announcement to the Villa coaching staff over the tannoy at full time to say that if they had lost Ollie Watkins, he could be collected from Ethan’s back pocket. Amazing.

We loved Ollie when he was a Bee and there is still so much mutual respect there. Likewise, worry about what he could have done to us. Moreso after their absolute destruction of Newcastle United the previous game. Thankfully, there was Ethan Pinnock to keep him quiet and the game safe.

From his early headed clearance a dangerous looking corner to the last minute he was under everything. ‘Imperious’ was the word one North stand observer would use at full time to describe his performance. Who am I to disagree?

4th (2 points) – Ben Mee
These days it seems you can’t have one without the other. Mee and Pinnock are as joined as the hip as it is possible to be.

We’ve spoken before about those classic Brentford centre back combos. About the likes of Evans and Millen. Hermann Hreiðarsson. Ívar Ingimarsson. Of course, our own skipper Pontus Jansson. Even Ezri Konsa who is now as critical apart of the Villa line up as anybody.

Yet Ben Mee is looking like the free transfer deal of the century and one of those whose name must be added to list of great Brentford central defenders. Saturday afternoon was yet further evidence as to why.

Didn’t put a foot wrong all afternoon. Looked so, so comfortable abasing this most dangerous and high-octane of attacking outfits.

5th (1 point) – Kevin Schade
Let’s deal with the elephant first. ‘That’ chance. Perhaps he snatched at it but let’s not forget the ability to even create it. The header on from Bryan’s cross and the speed to get past Olsen were delightful. He made the hard part look easy and the easy part look… well, let’s just say its a lot easier when you are up in the stands.

This aside, Kevin is really looking stronger and stronger each game. The speed at which he has adjusted to this side is on a par with his own, blistering, pace. He is undoubtedly fast, skilful and delivers the ball wonderfully. The Villa game saw him and Bryan opening them up time and again. Saw the work as part of his attacking three with Ivan blow the opposition away at times.

On another day we’d have won this by a country mile. Instead, a lesson learned but still more than enough from the brilliant German to make our top five.

Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 32)

All of which means that as we head to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Ivan Toney has stepped even further clear in the race for our team title. Ben Mee and Ethan Pinnock are tied in second place. With just six games to play is there time to haul in that 9 point lead? Rico Henry stays fourth with David Raya and Mathias Jensen fifth equal.

There’s all to play for at Chelsea on Wednesday. Bring it on and see you there.

1st – Ivan Toney (61 points)
T2nd – Ben Mee, Ethan Pinnock (52 points)
4th – Rico Henry (46 points)
T5th – David Raya, Mathias Jensen (44 points)

Follow Nick on Twitter @NickBruzon
2022-23 Brentford Player Ratings – Matchweek 32 vs Nick Bruzon