Unai Emery believes the decision to rule out Tammy Abraham's goal in Aston Villa's 1-0 defeat to Brentford was "unfair", as their Premier League title hopes were dented. 

Dango Ouattara had given Brentford, who had Kevin Schade sent off for kicking Matty Cash, the lead in first-half stoppage time, but the Villans dominated the second half.

After Caoimhin Kelleher spilt Jadon Sancho's shot, Abraham, on his second debut for the club after returning from Besiktas earlier this week, was on hand to slot home. 

However, following a VAR review, the goal was ruled out after Leon Bailey was deemed to have taken the ball out of play close to his own corner flag, long before Abraham put the ball in the net at the other end. 

As such, Villa lost a Premier League match in which the opponent received a first-half red card for the first time since April 2021, when they went down 1-2 against a Manchester City side who saw John Stones dismissed.

And Emery made his feelings known to the officials, saying in his post-match assessment: "I think it is not fair.

"If the assistant is watching it, there are a lot of actions and small circumstances which can change one goal.

"Of course, I accept it. But for me, it is not fair. The referees are so, so demanding in trying to correct everything they are doing, or where they can improve.

"For me, it is not fair. My explanation is it is one action after a long time. If the assistant referee did not see it, we must continue playing.

Defeat at home. pic.twitter.com/ywgWRatQ3p

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 1, 2026

"For VAR, it is difficult to analyse, and so tight as well. I think the problem is the VAR should not be asking in this situation. I accept it, but it is not fair.

"I can't say anything more about it. It is football and, of course, Brentford played fantastically with one player less than us.

"We are frustrated, disappointed, as well with the referee and VAR for his decision. But maybe sometimes we can win matches like that."

While Emery felt too long had passed between the ball going out of play and Abraham scoring, the Premier League Match Centre said on social media that the incident took place within the same "attacking possession phase."

The result kept Villa seven points behind leaders Arsenal, who thumped Leeds United 4-0 at Elland Road on Saturday. 

Brentford boss Keith Andrews had sympathy with Villa's VAR frustrations but was keen to highlight his team's defensive excellence.

"I thought it was a defensive masterclass in the second half. We asked a lot of our midfield three," Andrews said at his post-match press conference.

"We felt there were a couple of gaps opening up. Defensively, the desire to stop the ball going in the back of net was immense."

On the VAR decision, he added: "I couldn't see it live. The goal goes in and they checked it. It took about four minutes.

"If they come to the right decision, especially if it goes our way, then I am in favour of it. I can understand the frustrations of fans. It looked out. I haven't seen conclusive proof."

Brentford recorded their first-ever win (in any competition) at Villa Park on their 12th trip there, while it was only the third time they had kept a clean sheet away against the Villans (also in January 1953 and September 2017).