Having needed 466 minutes to score the final three goals of the Steven Gerrard era, Villa’s dream start to this crucial clash was as surprising as it was thrilling.
The demolition job started with Leon Bailey (25), who had struggled under the previous regime, but opened the scoring in emphatic fashion, rifling a left-footed thunderbolt into the roof of the Brentford net.
From that point on, the hosts operated with a sense of ruthlessness that had been absent during Gerrard’s reign.
Moving the ball with confidence, a slick Villa move would lead to their second, with Bailey this time turning provider for a close-range Danny Ings (30) tap-in.
The Villa striker would go on to double his tally moments later, converting via the penalty spot after a bamboozled Kristoffer Ajer (24) dragged down Tyrone Mings (29) inside the area.
Villa had previously scored just four goals in all of Gerrard’s home matches this season, but buoyed by their new-found confidence, the hosts matched that tally in this game alone midway through the second half.
Having seen his first effort saved by Brentford goalkeeper David Raya (27), before clattering a second strike against the woodwork, third time proved lucky for ex-Bees striker Ollie Watkins (26), who lashed home his side’s fourth of the afternoon.
Few could have predicted such an emphatic end to Villa’s wretched run of eight matches without a win against Brentford, with the ‘new manager bounce’ in full flow for the hosts.
As for Brentford, this result will do little to calm the nerves surrounding boss Thomas Frank’s uncertain future, especially with reports linking the Danish manager to the Villa hotseat.