Burnley 2-2 Aston Villa result - Relegated hosts earn draw to dent Villa's quest for Champions League football

VILLA FALL SHORT AT BURNLEY IN TENSE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RACE

Ollie Watkins was on the scoresheet for Aston Villa, who were held to a 2-2 draw against relegated Burnley in their quest for UEFA Champions League football next season.

Burnley took a surprise lead when Lesley Ugochukwu's effort gave Emi Martinez all sorts of problems, with the goalkeeper only able to parry the ball into the path of Jaidon Anthony to stab home after only eight minutes.

Villa thought they had equalised when Morgan Rogers put the ball on a plate for Watkins to nod home, but the England striker had made his run a touch too early and was ruled offside by VAR.

However, Villa did get their equaliser just minutes later when John McGinn’s corner met Ross Barkley’s head, as the midfielder steered beyond Max Weiss at the front post.

Following the break, Unai Emery’s team got themselves in front when Martinez’s route-one ball found the onrushing Watkins, who broke through two defenders before slotting the ball beyond Weiss for his eighth goal in his last 10 matches across all competitions.

But Burnley responded excellently, dispossessing Matty Cash before Hannibal Mejbri expertly flicked the ball into the path of Zian Flemming to finish smartly.

Villa - who briefly went above Liverpool and into fourth while leading - pushed hard in the final period, but Burnley held firm to earn a point at Turf Moor.

Emery’s side remain in fifth place, four points clear of sixth-place Bournemouth with two matches to play.

A HUGE FINAL PERIOD FOR VILLA

How significant could these last eight minutes, plus added time, be?

They briefly went above Liverpool and into fourth while leading, but as it stands, there are only four points between Emery's side and sixth-place Bournemouth with two games to go.

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