*Aston Villa and Brentford played out a fast and frenetic Premier League draw at a rowdy Villa Park.*

Both sets of supporters created a terrific atmosphere in glorious conditions and although there was plenty of energy and endeavour on show, the two sides struggled to create many clear cut opportunities.

Brentford went ahead after just seven minutes when Ivan Toney thumped a finish high into the net, but Argentine Emiliano Buendia levelled just five minutes later with a beautifully-guided strike into the corner.

The Bees thought they had retaken the lead before half-time but Sergi Canos had a goal ruled out after nicking the ball away from keeper Emiliano Martinez, who had thrown the ball up into the air for a quick kick away and was deemed to still be in possession.

The second half was a stop-start affair with no real flow to the game.

Villa substitute Ollie Watkins could have won it with two chances deep in injury-time against his old club, but his header and low drive were both kept out by David Raya.

Ultimately a point apiece was a fair result, with Brentford remaining unbeaten since achieving promotion to the top-flight.

Lots of battle, lacking in quality

Dean Smith managed Brentford between November 2015 and October 2018 before joining Villa and complimented his former side for their “deserved” promotion to the Premier League.

Thomas Frank’s men have adjusted well to life in the top tier, picking up a victory against Arsenal in their opening game and back-to-back draws away at Crystal Palace and Villa, as the Bees stretched their unbeaten run to 15 league and play-off matches.

Smith mentioned in his programme notes how he was “blown away” by the atmosphere generated in the opening home game, but a raucous home crowd were silenced after just seven minutes.

Brentford striker Toney was the Championship’s top scorer last season with 31 goals and is now off the mark in the top-flight, converting confidently from Pontus Jansson’s clever flick-on.

But the home supporters found their voices again soon after as Villa’s £33m record signing Buendia curled home his first goal for the club, the first that Brentford had conceded this season.

Visiting goalkeeper Raya made a sharp, reflex save to deny Danny Ings from close range and also kept out Axel Tuanzebe flicked header.

At the other end, Brentford should have gone in front again but Rico Henry dragged his shot wide from eight yards out, their only real chance of note after scoring.With eight minutes of injury-time added on, former Bees striker Watkins missed two opportunities to snatch all three points.

When Emiliano Buendia curled home his first goal for Aston Villa, the Argentine was greeted with a deafening roar from the home supporters inside the stadium.

Club-record signing Buendia, brought in from Norwich in the summer for £33m, announced himself to the raucous Villa faithful, collecting Danny Ings’ pass and caressing a delightful finish into the corner.

Buendia’s lovely strike was the equaliser for Villa against Brentford and although Dean Smith’s side could not find a winning goal, there were signs of a bright future following the departure of Jack Grealish.

England international Grealish was the undoubted star man at Villa and has settled in at Manchester City with a goal and an assist in his opening three games.

City paid a handsome Premier League record £100m to prise captain Grealish away from Villa Park this summer, and his number 10 shirt was handed to Buendia.

The Argentine scored 15 goals and provided 17 assists last season as the Canaries won the Championship title.

In his previous spell in the Premier League he created 83 chances for his team-mates, a figure beaten only by Kevin de Bruyne (136), Grealish (91) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (87).

Fellow summer signing Ings had scored two goals in his opening two games for Villa, but turned provider on Saturday, passing the ball across for Buendia to slot in.

The roles were almost reversed in the second half when Buendia’s attempted through ball nearly found the run of Ings, who could not quite latch on to the pass.

“That is why he brought him [Buendia] in, that is what he can do,” said Smith. “He nearly put Danny Ings in and showed us glimpses of why we bought him.

“It was important for him [to get off the mark], we know the quality he gives us.”

Buendia operated mostly from the right, as opposed to Grealish who featured mainly from the left, and highlighted his work rate in defensive situations too, making a match-high four tackles and winning the ball back nine times - more than any other Villa player.

Buendia said: “It was disappointing not to get the win. We did a lot of good things.”It’s lovely for me to help the team with this goal. It is a nice pressure. I took the responsibility to take the number 10 shirt from Jack, who was a great player.

“I will do my best to help the team get results.”

Villa, though, failed to create too many clear-cut opportunities against an impressive Brentford outfit that remain unbeaten following promotion from the Championship.

Former Bees striker Ollie Watkins could have won it with two chances in injury time, but saw his header and low drive saved by goalkeeper David Raya.

With players including summer signing Leon Bailey, Bertrand Traore and John McGinn out injured, Villa look like they possess the depth to spread out the goals and assists following the departure of talisman Grealish.

Smith added: “We are still trying to build fluidity, have players out but are getting the relationships and getting to know each other.

“I saw things I liked at times and [Buendia] scored a good goal as well.”