Aston Villa 2-2 West Bromwich Albion: Keinan Davis scores 92nd minute equaliser
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West Brom are nine points from safety with five games left
West Brom's faint hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a significant setback after substitute Keinan Davis scored a 92nd-minute equaliser for Aston Villa.
The Baggies fell behind when Anwar El Ghazi marked his return to the side by firing Villa ahead from the penalty spot after Semi Ajayi had clipped Ross Barkley.
They were then awarded a penalty of their own, Matheus Pereira beating Emiliano Martinez to equalise after Ezri Konsa caught Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Brazilian forward Pereira then hit the bar from a free-kick after creating chances for Okay Yokuslu and Maitland-Niles before Mbaye Diagne's deflected finish off Tyrone Mings looked to have sealed a third win in four games.
But Davis pounced in the closing moments for his first Premier League goal after a defensive mix-up to deny the Baggies, who are now nine points from safety with five games remaining.
Baggies edge closer to relegation
Aston Villa 2-2 West Brom: Sam Allardyce rues late goal as Baggies edge towards relegation
West Brom's players dropped to their knees when referee Stuart Attwell blew for full time after seeing three points ripped from their grasp by Davis' dramatic goal.
They had shown tremendous character to bounce back from Thursday's tame defeat at Leicester and come from behind to lead their West Midlands rivals at Villa Park.
West Brom started this game 10 points from safety following Burnley's handsome victory at Wolves earlier on Sunday and could quite easily have collapsed after El Gahzi's ninth minute penalty.
Instead they clawed their way back with Pereira outstanding, the former Sporting Lisbon player scoring one, hitting the bar and setting up several chances for his team-mates.
At the other end Sam Johnstone, whose long clearance led to the second goal, produced a huge save to stop England striker Ollie Watkins from equalising.
But they could not hold on and face a quick return to the Championship one season after winning automatic promotion with Leeds although Sam Allardyce is not conceding defeat just yet.
"We put it to the lads the teams who have got out of this position and there are about six of them," said the Baggies boss.
"It means winning a lot of games in your last few but five or six teams have done that.
"People might have looked at the team and thought 'are they going to go under?' but we didn't."
West Brom were moments away from a sixth Premier League win of the season when Villa equalised in stoppage time
Wesley enjoys Villa return
Despite Davis' equaliser, it is now one win in eight games for an Aston Villa side who continue to miss their influential captain Jack Grealish.
Villa's season is fizzling out but there were positives for Dean Smith despite their failure to secure maximum points against their struggling neighbours.
While it remains unclear when Grealish will be back, Brazilian striker Wesley got his first taste of action 480 days after he suffered a serious knee injury.
Defeat would have been a travesty for Villa - Smith
Davis has his first top-flight goal in his 29th appearance which pleased his manager.
"It was a good moment for Keinan, he is a well-respected and liked player," said Smith. "He has needed that goal and it has given him a great boost."
Mid-table Villa have taken just six points from the last 24 on offer but against West Brom they at least showed they are prepared to battle to the end.
Smith knows he has work to do to improve his squad this summer but this has been a highly satisfactory season for Villa after surviving relegation on the final day of last season.
'We showed real spirit' - what they said
West Brom boss Sam Allardyce: "But for their goalkeeper and the woodwork we would have got the third which would have seen it off.
"It was our mistake for the equaliser but I can't be too critical of the players. I'm really pleased with the response to the Leicester disappointment.
"The lads showed real spirit after a dodgy start. Apart from the last seconds it all worked extremely well."
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: "I think it was the least we deserved, it would have been a travesty if we had been beaten.
"We were the aggressors. I'm still wondering why the penalty was given against us. Whoever is at Stockley Park, surely you have to make him [referee Stuart Atwell] have a look at the monitor.
"We controlled the ball really well, we moved it well and caused them problems. We showed we can be a team when Jack [Grealish] is not playing."
More saves than anyone else - the stats
Including nine in this game, West Brom's Sam Johnstone has made 137 saves in this season's Premier League, more than any other goalkeeper.
Anwar El Ghazi has scored five goals against West Brom in all competitions, at least three more than he has against any other opponent in his time at Aston Villa.
Tyrone Mings' own goal was Aston Villa's first of the season, and 47th overall in their Premier League history. Only Everton (53) have scored more own goals in the competition.
West Brom have picked up just 11 points in their 17 away league outings this season. Only relegated Sheffield United (four) have fewer away points in this season's Premier League.
What's next?
Villa are away at Everton on Saturday (20:00 BST) while West Brom host neighbours Wolves in the Black Country derby on Monday, 3 May (18:00).
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