Aston Villa player ratings vs Brentford as Ollie Watkins completes comeback in fiery clash
This year, Aston Villa has won 25 games in the first level of the league. Under Nou Emery, the team overcame a deficit to defeat Brentford 2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium, setting a new club record.
After Ben Mee was sent off for a risky tackle, Alex Moreno made up for his earlier error to tie the score in the second half. Ollie Watkins then scored the game’s winning goal late on. Subsequently, Boubacar Kamara was substituted by Yegor Yarmolyuk when Emi Martinez engaged in needless pranks during the game’s last moments.
Villa came into the game on the back of a draw with Zrinjski Mostar in Bosnia on Thursday and Emery’s side only had one training session at Bodymoor Heath before heading to Brentford. Villa booked their place in the Europa Conference League round of 16 by avoiding a heavy defeat in midweek, and have now won four of the six league games after a group stage match in European competition.
Trips to Brentford haven’t been fruitful for Villa in recent seasons, having failed to win in their last five matches, while their last league win came back in 1947. The suspensions of Douglas Luiz and Lucas Digne made the task Emery’s side had even harder against the Bees, who had only lost four home league games since the start of last season before entertaining Villa.
Brentford were without some key personnel themselves, including Bryan Mbeumo and Mathias Jensen. They started on the back foot as Villa won four corners inside the first five minutes of the game, while Moreno had a couple of chances to bag his first Premier League goal, but he failed to work goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Despite Villa’s dominance, Brentford made the best chances in the first period and should have gone ahead through Mikkel Damsgaard, but he was denied by Martinez in the box. It was Matty Cash who squandered Villa’s best chance to get in front, as he couldn’t finish at the back post from Pau Torres’ cross.
As Villa pushed for an opener before the break, they were caught cold by the hosts from a corner. Saman Ghoddos’ corner was initially headed away, but as Moreno waited to clear his lines, Lewis-Potter was on hand to slam the ball into the net.
Shortly after replacing Matty Cash in the second half, Leon Bailey was on the end of a dangerous tackle from Ben Mee, who was sent off after a VAR review. Fortunately Bailey was unhurt and managed to get his side back in the game by assisting Moreno for the equaliser as the left-back headed in at the back post.
Watkins then popped up with the winner in the 85th minute as Jacob Ramsey’s corner was flicked on by Boubacar Kamara, which allowed Watkins to head in. The Villa striker has now scored 20 Premier League goals in 2023, which matches a club record for a calendar year set by Dwight Yorke in 1996.
As Brentford pushed for an equaliser, Neal Maupay fell to the floor next to Martinez and the Villa goalkeeper tried to pick him up from the shirt. It led to a big altercation, where Kamara was sent off for appeared to push Yarmolyuk in the face.
Villa remain unbeaten in all seven of their league fixtures in London under Emery and only in 1980-81, when they last won the title, has the club ever had more than their current tally of 38 points after 17 top-flight games in a season.
Player ratings
Emi Martinez
Made a top save to deny Damsgaard early in the first half and kept Villa in the game in the second half. Made a mistake by involving himself in Maupay’s antics. 8
Ezri Konsa
Played at right-back again and impressed. Top defender. 7
Diego Carlos
Started his fifth match in a row for Villa, which is his longest run in the side since joining the club from Sevilla in the summer of 2022. Appeared to struggle defending the space between himself and Konsa on the right. 6
Pau Torres
Excellent in progressing possession once again. Had to come off as he picked up an injury in the second half. 8
Alex Moreno
Moreno made his first league start of the season this afternoon and looked dangerous going forward, but he failed to clear his lines when Lewis-Potter put the hosts ahead. Had a poor afternoon. 7
Boubacar Kamara
Stuck his boot in and won the majority of his duels. Played the ball facing forward too. He’ll regret raising his hand in the final minutes, which saw him recieve a red card. 8
John McGinn
Played in a deeper role alongside Kamara today, but as Villa imposed themselves on Brentford, the captain was playing in the host’s half anyway. 7
Matty Cash
Operated on the right flank ahead of Konsa as McGinn moved back in the double pivot alongside Kamara because of the absences of Luiz and Tielemans. Missed a decent chance to put his side ahead after making a good run to latch on to Torres’ cross. 6
Jacob Ramsey
Like Moreno, Ramsey also started from the off in a Premier League game for the first time this term. Looked bright in the first half, but his affect on the game fizzled out. 6
Moussa Diaby
Came into the XI for his first start in four league games as Leon Bailey was named among the subs having picked up a knock in the win over Arsenal last weekend. He had little impact in the game and is playing inside himself at the moment. 6
Ollie Watkins
Isolated for most of the game, but came up with the all-important winner. It’s what all the top strikers do. 8
SUBS
Leon Bailey (for Cash, 65′): He continued his excellent form by notching yet another assist. 8
Jhon Duran (for Diaby, 65′): Injected some poise in Villa’s attack, which was stale before he came on. 7
Nicolo Zaniolo (for Torres, 80′): N/A
Leander Dendoncker (for Ramsey, 89′): N/A
Subs not used: Marschall, Proctor, Chambers, Lenglet, Iroegbunam.
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