4 December 2024
Aston Villa 3 Brentford 1
Aston Villa had gone seven games without a win, something which has seen them drop like a stone down the Premier League table. They welcomed Brentford, the team with one of the worst away records in the top-flight this campaign. This seemed like the perfect opponent to welcome to Villa Park, this was Unai Emery’s chance to end this run of poor form.
Mings returned to the starting line-up, hoping for no dodgy penalties in this one. It will be one of the moments of the season that. Seeing him pick up the ball for no reason, only to see the referee point to the penalty spot. Comedy gold. The fact that it proved to be the only goal of the game in a win for Club Brugge just added the overall comedic value.
The hosts started well and looked to probe the Brentford defence. As Watkins and Rogers exchanged passes, he opted to let fly from the edge of the box. He caught the ball superbly as his effort bent around Flekken and into the back of the net. Villa Park erupted as he wheeled away in celebration. The fans knew as good as the goal was, they needed a win more than this.
Emery’s side broke with pace and as Rogers played it into Bailey, he twisted and turned to try and make some space. He finally got his shot off but it was straight at Flekken who beat it away. Rogers was following up but he sliced his effort wide of the target. Despite this, the Villa fans were enjoying what they were seeing on the pitch once again.
Despite the hosts’ lead, the atmosphere felt somewhat fragile. When you are in a bad run of form, things can change in an instant. In those moments, you truly could not even buy a win. That is how important it was for Emery’s side to get back to winning ways. This poor run was costing them any hope they had of a top four finish once again.
The one-touch passing from Villa was carving Brentford open. As Rogers clipped a ball over the top for Watkins, he seemed to have got in front of Pinnock. The striker went to ground after having a scuffed shot at goal. He demanded a penalty but the referee took some time to mull over it before opting to point to the penalty spot.
Tielemans missed the last one they took so Watkins took over the duty. He placed his shot into the bottom corner but Flekken guessed the right way. The keeper seemed to get a solid hand to it but the ball trickled into the goal. He will expect himself to have done better there, especially after getting right down into the corner for it.
Aston Villa were growing in confidence. Rogers seemed pivotal to everything they were doing well. As Brentford rocked on the ropes, trying to clear crosses away, one dropped to Cash on the back post. He drilled his volley towards goal and into the back of the net. Before the end of the first-half, the Villans had surely put this game to bed.
In the space of thirteen minutes, The Bees had conceded three goals. That simply cannot happen at this level. You will get punished more often than not. After the interval, the hosts continued to press for that fourth goal. Digne clipped a cross into the box and Watkins’ header seemed destined for the far corner. From nowhere, Flekken leapt across goal to keep it out with his fingertips.
Against the run of play, Frank’s side ventured forward. Mbuemo was pulling the strings, trying get quality ball in the box. As Aston Villa failed to clear it, one such cross dropped to Damsgaard at the back post. He cut inside onto his stronger foot and drilled his shot past Martinez, to give the visitors some glimmer of a chance of a comeback.
If Brentford had managed another goal, Emery’s side would have had to cope with their demons once again. Sadly, after nearly an hour played, this was The Bees’ first shot on goal in the game. That stat alone made you question whether they had a comeback in their locker at all. There was plenty of time left in this game for more goals.
Villa continued to press in search of a fourth goal. Watkins was denied by a good save from Flekken before his fellow striker had to take his turn. As the cross came in, Duran showed the hunger to get there before his marker but once again the Brentford keeper came to their rescue. He has been in fine form for The Bees this season.
Digne was then the next player to lay it on a plate for Duran. In the middle of the goal, in acres of space, he struck it towards goal. He caught it well enough but it was far too close to Flekken. He was able to get his body behind it and block the effort. He was just making this result a little more respectable by this point.
As Aston Villa start winning games again, slowly, the confidence will come back. We have even seen it from Man City of late also. It doesn’t matter who you are, when you hit one of those ruts, you have to get yourself out of it. Even with a two-goal lead, this game didn’t feel safe. Emery’s side held on for the three points and moved up to seventh in the table.
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