Brentford are set to travel to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa on Wednesday, and manager Thomas Frank feels confident ahead of the tie, coming off an emphatic 4-1 win against Leicester City at the GTech Community Stadium.
A Mid-Week Challenge in Birmingham
The Bees are determined to secure their first away win in the Premier League this season against Unai Emery’s side. Frank believes his team have performed “relatively well” in away fixtures, noting their defeat to Fulham as the only exception.
Frank pointed out that their run of away opponents, including Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester United, is “part of the reason” for their winless away record so far.
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Aston Villa have been struggling for form recently, with their last league win coming on October 19 away at Fulham. Frank commented, “There’s always a spell where you are struggling a little bit,” adding that Aston Villa seem to be experiencing that spell, compounded by Champions League fixtures where they “can only rest three or four players.”
He stated that “there’s a good chance to get something out of the game” but acknowledged the challenge ahead, praising the “fantastic” Unai Emery and the passionate fans at Villa Park.
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“Close To Perfect Performance”
Frank was full of praise for his German forward Kevin Schade after a phenomenal hat-trick against Leicester over the weekend. He compared Schade’s performance to something one might see from the “greatest players in the game” and expressed satisfaction at seeing the player gain the “extra bit of confidence” he needed
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Frank acknowledged Schade’s hard work in training and during games, noting that he had not been “fulfilled” until the Leicester match. He hopes this form “continues.”
Reflecting on his squad’s reaction to Schade’s performance, Frank felt proud of the “good, but rare culture” he has fostered at the club. He noted that the players “really care about each other,” maintaining a positive and uplifting environment even “behind the scenes.”
Spoilt for options up front
Ivan Toney’s departure to Saudi Arabia at the start of the season raised concerns for Brentford, as the English forward had been a key factor in the West London side’s attacking prowess, scoring an impressive 72 goals in 141 appearances over four years at the club.
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However, this season has shown that Toney’s absence is not a significant issue. Brentford rank joint second for most goals scored this season, with 26 in 13 games so far.
The combination of Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo, and now Kevin Schade has created a formidable attacking force for the club, with the trio scoring a combined total of 19 goals.
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Frank attributed this attacking success to the “freshness and intensity” of his squad. He highlighted the game against West Ham earlier in the season, where, despite the absence of Wissa and Schade due to injury, Mbeumo slotted perfectly into the No. 9 role and scored in the 1-1 draw.
With Schade opening his account in dramatic style against Leicester, Mbeumo and Wissa “embedded” in the team and scoring eight goals each this season, and new arrival Igor Thiago having recovered from his injury, Frank feels “more than happy” and “blessed” with the attacking options at his disposal.
The Gen10 initiative
Brentford have announced the Gen10 initiative, a strategy that caps ticket prices for Under-18 supporters at just £10 for both home and away fixtures, making tickets more accessible for families and young fans
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Brentford Football Club CEO Jon Varney stated that “Gen10 is a statement of intent” as the club prioritizes “young fans first,” and he hopes “other clubs follow this initiative.”
Frank expressed his delight with the initiative, emphasizing the importance of young people experiencing both home and away environments. He hopes the initiative will encourage “more young fans to follow the game” and develop a “good habit” of attending football matches.
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Brentford currently sit eighth in the Premier League, just three points away from a Champions League spot, as they prepare to face Aston Villa, who have dropped to 12th due to their recent poor form.
The Villans have never lost to Brentford in their six meetings at Villa Park. However, given Aston Villa’s current struggles, Frank is hopeful of securing all three points and wants his side to “keep going” following their victory against Leicester.
Kick-off is at 8:15 pm on Wednesday, December 4, at Villa Park.
Anirudh Nair
Grown up in Dubai, Ani is largely into Cricket and Football and supports FC Barcelona. He is also a qualified football coach and cricket umpire, so if you're looking for someone to stand behind the stumps on short notice, you know who to call. He also regularly follows Tennis, Badminton and Field Hockey.
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