Aston Villa secured a 3-2 victory over 10-man Burnley.

In a match that saw a late strike from Douglas Luiz, Aston Villa secured a 3-2 victory over 10-man Burnley. This win propelled Aston Villa to the second position in the Premier League (PL) table, tying with leaders Liverpool. Unai Emery made history as the first Villa manager since Martin O’Neill in 2010 to orchestrate a home win against Burnley.

The early stages of the game were far from entertaining, but with the prospect of jointly leading the PL, Villa eventually gained control. Ollie Watkins played a pivotal role, directing a fierce volley into James Trafford’s hands. Although Villa’s pressure was relentless, they hadn’t taken the lead yet, leaving an opening for Burnley, who had missed opportunities through Josh Brownhill.

Moments later, Watkins set up Leon Bailey to give Villa the lead. However, Burnley quickly equalized when Zeki Amdouni scored from close range after Dara O’Shea’s knockdown. Burnley’s joy was short-lived as they conceded again in calamitous circumstances. A long pass over the entire Burnley defense allowed Watkins to assist Diaby, putting Villa in the lead at halftime.

The second half favored Burnley initially, but their momentum was abruptly halted when Sander Berge received a second yellow card. Villa continued to apply pressure, but against the run of play, Burnley managed to equalize as Lyle Foster scored at the near post – his first goal since returning from a mental health lay-off.

Frustration echoed through Villa Park after the equalizer, with Emery visibly affected by the discontent from the Villa supporters. Despite the challenges, the players persisted in their pursuit of a winner, which eventually materialized in the dying moments. Douglas Luiz calmly converted a penalty, breaking Burnley hearts and propelling Villa to a share of the PL lead.