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Player ratings and report from Aston Villa’s nervy 1-0 win at Brentford in the Premier League.
Ollie Watkins’ second half strike against his former club earned Aston Villa a narrow 1-0 victory away at Brentford on Saturday evening, sealing a huge three points in the race for Europe.
Unai Emery’s side just about edged a cagey encounter under the lights at the Gtech Community Stadium, securing their fifth away Premier League victory of the season to move up to seventh, two points outside the top four.
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There was very little to separate the two teams in the first half and it became very end-to-end in the second period. It was a good job Villa striker Watkins netted his 49th-minute goal as Morgan Rogers had one disallowed and Brentford looked threatening, controversially denied two penalties as Kevin Schade was twice bundled over in the box by Axel Disasi. Keane Lewis-Potter also struck the woodwork, further frustrating the hosts who have now failed to win any of their last seven home league matches.
Villa, with Robin Olsen between the sticks instead of the injured Emiliano Martinez, looked very nervous when passing out from the back in the opening exchanges. Brentford had two great chances to score in quick succession after Villa failed to clear, the first coming as Lewis-Potter squared into the area but Tyrone Mings made a big clearance before Vitaly Janet struck on the rebound but his shot was heroically blocked, also by Mings.
Emery’s men eventually threatened down the other end as the chances began to mount up. Mings had the best of the bunch as the defender - completely unmarked - ran onto a deep Youri Tielemans free-kick but failed to generate enough power on his strike, allowing Mark Flekken to make a routine save. Tielemans and Rogers both went close later in the first half but their shots were blocked at close range.
Ollie Watkins scored the winner against his former club as Aston Villa beat Brentford 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium.Ollie Watkins scored the winner against his former club as Aston Villa beat Brentford 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Ollie Watkins scored the winner against his former club as Aston Villa beat Brentford 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium. | Getty Images
Watkins roared the game into life just after the interval, breaking the deadlock with a powerful strike from 15 yards. Jacob Ramsey fed Watkins down the left and the striker had all the time in the world to dribble inside and fire into the near bottom corner, aided by a deflection off Nathan Collins and poor goalkeeping from Flekken, who let the ball right underneath his body.
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Rogers thought he’d made it two moments later as he thrashed the ball home from a Watkins cut-back, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a lengthy VAR check. Ramsey played through Watkins beautifully but the striker timed his run a split second too early.
Brentford had a huge penalty shout in the 65th minute as Schade was taken down in the penalty area when Matty Cash and Disasi bundled into one another, knocking over Schade like a skittle. It looked like a foul but referee Jarred Gillett waved on play and VAR refused to intervene, perhaps as Schade never actually had full control of the ball.
Thomas Frank’s side kept knocking on the door for an equaliser and Lewis-Potter went agonisingly close to sourcing just that, firing hard and low from 20 yards but seeing the ball cannon back off the base of the left post. Schade then had a second penalty shout as he was nudged over by Disasi, but Gillett was once again uninterested.
Watkins had a superb chance to wrap up the game when fed through by Rogers on the counter-attack but he fluffed his lines, seeing a cute dink attempt easily caught by Flekken. It was as if Watkins had too much time to think about it, gifting the goalkeeper a simple save.
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Emery was relieved his side weren’t made to rue that miss as Brentford were unable to find their equaliser despite going close on several occasions in stoppage time. Maximum points see Villa soar back into Champions League qualification.
Player ratings
Robin Olsen - 7
Showed early signs of nerves by hesitantly picking up the ball after a possible backpass from Disasi, just about getting away with it. Went on to improve throughout the game, making three decent saves to deny Lewis-Potter, Wissa and Schade. Also claimed well from crosses, apart from one that slipped through his hands near the end. A deserved clean sheet.
Axel Disasi - 9*
Put in an outstanding display at right-back to keep the likes of Mbuemo, Wissa and Lewis-Potter at bay, contributing so many important sliding tackles. Showed so much passion after every single one, too – a great sign of his care for the Villa. Perhaps lucky not to concede a penalty on not one but two occasions, but they weren’t given after all.
Ezri Konsa - 7
Cleared away on the brink of half time to stop Schade from having a shot from just a few yards out. Anticipated crosses and through balls well all game long.
Tyrone Mings - 8
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Made a pivotal double clearance and block in the ninth minute, denying an otherwise certain goal for Brentford. Should’ve scored soon after, however, missing a big chance with a weak shot straight at Flekken. Imperious in the air to head away so many crosses, especially from set pieces.
Lucas Digne - 7
Chipped in with his fair share of tackles and clearances to help Villa preserve the all-important clean sheet. Unable to threaten from crosses as he usually would, though.
John McGinn - 5 (off 61’)
Very nearly gifted Brentford an early goal as he gave away the ball in his own area, saved by an important challenge from Tielemans. Conceded two sloppy fouls in the first half and was booked for the second, stopping Wissa on the counter-attack.
Youri Tielemans - 7
Made a vital intervention to stop Wissa from taking on a close-range shot after a mistake from McGinn. Unable to help Villa dominate possession often enough but did show off an impressive passing range.
Leon Bailey - 5 (off at HT)
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Struggled to get into the game in the first half and was replaced by Matty Cash.
Jacob Ramsey - 8 (off 68’)
Assisted Watkins’ goal with a simple pass and played a key role in Rogers’ disallowed strike, playing a peach of a through ball in the lead-up. Saw a great curled shot headed away by Collins in the first half.
Morgan Rogers - 7 (off 90+4’)
Not quite as threatening as usual but found gaps in Brentford’s packed midfield to progress Villa up the pitch. Denied a goal by VAR.
Ollie Watkins - 8
Scored the ruthless winner after some great work down the left to create space for his shot. Occupied the Brentford centre-halves off the ball effectively throughout.
Matty Cash - 7 (on at HT)
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Provided better width down the right than Bailey did and fired in a couple of decent low deliveries.
Boubacar Kamara - 7 (on 61’)
Added some physicality off the bench, helping Villa to see out the clean sheet.
Marcus Rashford - 6 (on 68’)
Unable to dazzle as he usually does as he ran into trouble more often than not.
Related topics:BrentfordUnai EmeryOllie WatkinsMorgan RogersTyrone Mings
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