Aston Villa 2 Burnley 2 - Report and pictures

Anwar El Ghazi opened the scoring for Dean Smith’s team after John McGinn had seen an effort ruled out by VAR, before former Albion striker Jay Rordiguez levelled in the second half.

McGinn then thought he had won it when he put Villa back ahead with 11 minutes remaining.

But Chris Wood equalised again for the visitors to leave Smith’s men with just one win in their opening seven Premier League matches.

Analysis

Not for the first time in the past week, Villa were left wondering what might have been after failing to get full reward for a largely good performance.

Smith’s men had also led twice before losing 3-2 at Arsenal last Sunday and their inability to hold onto a lead is becoming a major concern.

Questions must also be asked of a defence which has now conceded five in two matches and has lost a little of its early season strength.

Their first-half performance was arguably the best of the season to date and they were well worth the advantage given to them by El Ghazi’s second goal of the season.

But just as at the Emirates, in the second half Villa lost their way and Burnley carried more threat.

Even then, McGinn looked to have done enough to seal three points when he fired home from substitute Trezeguet’s cross, only for Wood to level things up again within two minutes.

Villa’s team news was intriguing. There were two changes from the team beaten 3-2 at Arsenal the previous weekend, including a first Premier League appearance for the club for Matt Targett, who replaced Neil Taylor at left-back.

More interesting was a recall for Conor Hourihane, in place of Trezeguet, with Jack Grealish taking up a more advanced position on the left of Villa’s attacking three.

It was from that flank which came Villa’s first big chance inside three minutes, though it was Targett who delivered the cross from which McGinn should really have opened the scoring, the Scot sending his header over the bar.

Wood wasted a similarly excellent chance at the other end when he was unable to make clean contact on Erik Pieters’ long-wing cross.

Both teams hit the woodwork in quick succession from free-kicks. Hourihane sent a curling effort bouncing off the outside of the post before, a minute later, Dwight McNeill drove a 25-yard effort off the top of the bar.

Then came the controversy. Villa thought they had taken the lead when McGinn swept home Hourihane’s low cross and the two teams were lined up, ready to kick-off when VAR eventually ruled the latter had been marginally offside in the build-up.

Regardless, the incident fired up the home supporters, who eight minutes later were celebrating again as their team did go ahead.

With Villa breaking forward, McGinn found Guilbert out on the right, who whipped in a low cross which El Ghazi, having got in front of Ben Mee, re-directed first-time inside the far post.

The hosts might have led by more at the break. El Ghazi went close again when he was unable to make clean connection on a McGinn cross which took a late deflection. Grealish then brought a smart save out of Pope in stoppage time.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche introduced Jay Rodriguez off the bench for the second half but it was Jeff Hendrick who nearly brought the visitors level, Mings diving in to divert his shot over the bar.

There was concern for Wesley soon after when the striker briefly appeared unresponsive after going down when Mee fired the ball into his face at close range. The striker was rolled onto his side by concerned team-mates but ruled OK to continue after being checked over by medical staff.

Villa were lacking the fluency of their first-half display and lost Targett to injury just past the hour mark.

Whether the full-back would have been able to prevent Burnley’s leveller is a question which will never be answered though it was his replacement, Neil Taylor, that was outjumped by Rodriguez at the far post as the former Albion man headed Pieters’ cross beyond Heaton and into the net.

Grealish wasted a good chance to put the hosts back ahead when he fired over when in space, 20 yards out.

With 11 minutes remaining, McGinn did hit the target to restore the advantage, arriving at the far post to side-foot a volley from Trezeguet’s cross underneath keeper Pope.

But again, Villa were unable to hold the lead, with visitors back on level terms within two minutes. Matthew Lowton crossed from the right and Wood climbed above Bjorn Engels to head home.

Key Moments

13 - OFF THE POST - Conor Hourihane curls a free-kick off the post.

14 - OFF THE BAR - Almost immediately, at the other end, Dwight McNeil sends a 25-yard free-kick crashing off the bar.

25 - GOAL DISALLOWED Villa think they have taken the lead when John McGinn sweeps home Conor Hourihane’s low cross but after a lengthy delay, the latter is ruled to have been offside and the goal chalked off.

33 - GOAL Villa finally do take the lead and this one will stand. Anwar El Ghazi nips in front of Ben Mee to meet Frederic Guilbert’s cross and guide it first time inside the far post.

68 - GOAL Jay Rodriguez levels things up for the visitors, getting in front of Neil Taylor to convert Erik Pieters’ cross.

79 - GOAL John McGinn fires Villa back in front, side-footing home Trezeguet’s cross on the volley.

81- GOAL Burnley are level again. Chris Wood climbs high above Bjorn Engels to head home Matthew Lowton’s right-wing cross.

Teams

Villa (4-3-3): Heaton, Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett (Taylor 62), McGinn, Nakamba, Hourihane, El Ghazi (Trezeguet 70), Wesley (Davis 88), Grealish Subs not used: Konsa, Luiz, Jota, Steer (gk).

Burnley (4-4-2): Pope, Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee ©, Pieters, McNeil, Cork, Westwood, Hendrick, Wood, Barnes (Brady 83) Subs not used: Gudmundsson, Gibson, Lennon, Bardsley, Hart (gk).