CALM BEFORE THE STORMER

Latin temperament but English stiff upper lip as Emery tells his troops to Keep Calm and Carry on Scoring

- PAUL BROWN

KEEP calm and carry on could be Aston Villa’s motto right now. 

Skipper John McGinn revealed that manager Unai Emery told them to do just that at half-time after initially being dominated by Brentford.

And despite allowing Ivan Toney to score his 19th Premier League goal of the season, they eventually rescued a point through a late equaliser from Douglas Luiz (below, right).

No-one should be surprised. Villa do not know when they are beaten under Emery.

They have not failed to score in any of his 19 league games in charge. And with Fulham at home tomorrow and European football still a realistic possibility, it’s all to play for at Villa Park these days.

Asked what Emery (right) told the team at half-time, McGinn said: “Stay calm and things will happen. We’ve been in this position before. After the goal, we reacted well and could have nicked it at the end.

“It was a good last ten minutes for us. They make you fight. When you go 1-0 behind, it’s a really good point.