A second goal by Ollie Watkins against his former team proved to be the difference, as Aston Villa got a very necessary Premier League victory in Brentford.
Villa ran 1-0 winners at the GTECH Community Stadium Courtes Hy by Strike Watkins in 49 minutes to give Unai Emery just a second league win in eight games.
Morgan Rogers saw a target hitting offside, as Emery’s men defended decisively to see the tie and take a significant three points.
The result moves the villa to the seventh, a spot behind Brighton and Chelsea.
For Brentford, the result was only their second defeat in six matches and leaves Thomas Frank’s team in the 12th.
Three points won 😤 #Breavl pic.twitter.com/hzlmrou1dp
– Aston Villa (@avfcofficial) 8 March 2025
How the action unfolded
Brdford began to be brighter and could have been ahead after just six minutes, if it wasn’t for the last hit of the Tielemans, like Yoane Wissa ready to shoot after John McGinn’s mistake.
In what turned out to be a largely open first half, Tyrone Mings might have had a little more effort than a free kick, but the volleyball of the city’s defensive city was hit straight into the hands of a thankful Mark Flekken.
Tielemans took another stop from Flekken before the Belgian header behind the goal was passed over his bar from Ethan Pinnock.
After a horrible first semester, it took only three minutes of the second to break the impasse. Watkins took the ball to the left of the villa before cutting in and releasing a strong strike in the lower corner through a light diversion.
Ollie Watkins breaks the deadlock against his former club! 🔓
His sixth goal in six matches against Brdford since he left 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rb7wz9td3z
– Sky Sports Premier League (@skysportspl) 8 March 2025
Seconds later, Watkins found himself in an almost identical position, but this time he put the ball over the box with the upcoming Rogers who hit the house.
But after a VAR check, the target was excluded for an offside against Watkins.
The game suddenly burst into life. Wissa threw a header just above the bar, while Axel Disasi twice denied Kevin Schade with important blocks.
In 70 minutes, Keane Lewis-Potter had Brentford’s best chance when he hit the position with low movement from the edge of the box.
Keane Lewis-Potter’s effort collapses against the position! 💥 pic.twitter.com/ozplieorgc
– Sky Sports Premier League (@skysportspl) 8 March 2025
Watkins could put the tie beyond the hosts when he ran purely five minutes of the remaining 90, but the England man went for a crumpled finish that landed directly in Flekken’s hands.
In the end, the loser will not prove to be expensive. The villa and the disaster in particular have defended well to maintain the lead and give visitors a vital three points.
Emery’s side will go at noon in the Champions League second leg full of confidence.
