Key stats
- Brentford have now scored in their last 10 Premier League games
- Brentford have avoided defeat in their last 10 matches when scoring first in the Premier League, since a 1-3 loss to Arsenal in 2025
- Aston Villa have failed to win any of their last four matches when conceding first in the Premier League, since a victory over Chelsea in 2025
Highlights
Analysis
Aston Villa controlled the game for large chunks but failed to find a breakthrough.
Match report
Looking to bounce back after a losing start to life as Brentford boss, Keith Andrews handed record signing Dango Ouattara his first start for the club, and with 13 minutes on the clock, the new recruit marked his debut with a goal.
A long ball from Caoimhin Kelleher was flicked on by Igor Thiago, allowing the former Bournemouth man to race through on goal, initially poking straight at Emiliano Martínez before getting a second bite of the cherry with a rebound finish.
No PL side had fewer than Villa’s three shots in their opening match, and once again, they were struggling in attack, with Ollie Watkins often isolated up top.
As a result, the visitors rarely threatened in the first half, coming closest through a low John McGinn drive that made its way through a crowd before being stopped by Kelleher’s outstretched boot.
At the other end, it appeared that the Bees would take a two-goal lead into the break, but a foul from Nathan Collins meant that Mikkel Damsgaard’s excellent volley was disallowed.
Hoping for a first PL clean sheet against Villa at the ninth attempt (W1, D3, L4), Brentford had Michael Kayode to thank for a sliding block to deny Morgan Rogers from close range shortly after the restart.
The visitors dominated possession as they searched for an equaliser, yet the Bees remained organised, limiting Unai Emery’s men to scraps.
Several Villa changes brought renewed energy, but ultimately, there was no way through a solid Brentford rearguard that held firm to see out three points.
Defeat marks the end of Villa’s unbeaten H2H streak (W4, D2), leaving Emery’s side with just one point from their opening two fixtures in what can only be described as a disappointing start to the campaign.
As for Brentford, a much-improved performance gets them off the mark under their new manager.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Michael Kayode (Brentford)
Post-match comments
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery to Sky Sports:
"We lost the match today because the first 20 minutes, we were not performing and playing with intensity we needed. After we reacted and dominated, created chances, had corners, they defended well, we avoided their attacking transition. But this is football, you concede one goal and it is difficult to come back.
"We need to keep working, build a team and be strong like the last three years - last year we needed time, this year is not how we wanted to start, we accept it though.
"We competed well with Newcastle and today it was not enough and we will try to clarify everything in the transfer window. Keep calm, work the same as we were doing is my message and be strong."
Brentford boss Keith Andrews to Sky Sports:
"His goal will get the headlines but for me, it was the aspects of the game, the selfless nature of how he approached the game, what was needed to get a result.
"If he didn't stick to that it would have been very difficult to deal with them. He was amazing in the space of a few days."