After an interminable international break Villa were able to field a virtually-full strength side but there were still a couple of surprises. Matty Cash was available after taking a midweek knock while Pau Torres was on the bench, presumably with an eye on the upcoming Champions League game. Also missing was Taylor Harwood-Bellis, which meant Tyrone Mings partnering Victor Lindelof.

And it was Mings who was responsible for Villa losing the ball that led to the visitors going ahead after ten minutes. Fortunately there was an equaliser almost immediately. John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia, two of the mainstays of Unai’s first team, laid on the ball for Nicolas Jackson, one of the chief hopes for his re-modelled side, and he made no mistake.

Villa had more than enough chances to have the match won by half-time. Johan Manzambi’s initial shot was well-saved with Buendia snatchung at the revoubd and hitting it high into the North Stand building site, Jackson hit another straightforward chance into the cement mixers while McGinn should have done much better than bringing out another good save from the Brentford keeper.

The second half began with Aaron Wan-Bissaka replacing Martteo Ruggeri, who had suffered a hamstring injury. Zion Suzuki was involved more after the interval and with thirteen minutes remaining Mings laid off a good ball to start the attack that led to McGinn scoring with a typical looping shot from fifteen yards.

Again, though, there was an equaliser within a couple of minutes and again the Villa defence was at fault as Brentford were allowed to take the ball unchallenged into a position where Suzuki had no chance.

Two-two was how it finished and that was a fair assessment of the afternoon. Credit to Villa for making so many chances but you can’t miss most of them and expect to win. Equally, so many defensive errors will invariably prove costly at this level.

Having to replace the keeper and half of the back four, with another member seeming to be unable to play in a run of games, naturally takes time to work. Sadly, though, Tyrone Mings seems as though he won’t be part of the great rebuild.

It may have been better if he’d been one of the summer’s departures; then his final appearance would have been in the triumph his service did so much to help us achieve. Now he’s reminiscent of a faded boxer having his head jabbed off by opponents he would have dealt with easily in his prime.

On the brighter side, though, there were still enough signs that the team’s rebuilding is going well. Jackson looka as though he’s been in the team forever while Manzambi and Joao Gomes are showing enormous promise,.