Aston Villa suffers a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford, with new signing Ouattara grabbing the decisive goal on his debut. This victory marks a significant milestone for Keith Andrews, being his first win as a manager.
In a closely contested match, Brentford emerged victorious against Aston Villa, with Dango Ouattara scoring the 12th-minute winner on his debut for the Bees. The match, played at the Brentford Community Stadium, saw a mix of exciting moments and tense battles.
Ouattara, who joined from Bournemouth, capitalised on a one-on-one opportunity against Emiliano Martinez, securing an early lead for Brentford. The goal was a significant moment for the newcomer, marking his first goal for his new club.
Despite Ollie Watkins' best efforts, Aston Villa struggled to create opportunities. Watkins, who is fondly remembered by Brentford fans for his 50 goals in 128 starts for the club, barely had a chance in the match. His former team, now under the new ownership of Matthew Vaughn, showed a more positive attack, with Claudia Schiffer, Vaughn's wife, cheering them on from the stands.
The first half was a challenging one for Aston Villa, with the team barely touching the ball before half-time. Brentford's dominance continued into the second half, with their attack showing more imagination in the final third compared to Villa's.
There were several notable moments in the match. Thiago fired wide when he should have played a simple squared pass to Ouattara, who was in space. Tyrone Mings made a brilliant point-blank block to deny Jordan Henderson's rocket effort. Keane Lewis-Potter was brought down by Mings, who received a foul call but no card.
In an attempt to turn the tide, Villa's manager Emery made several substitutions, including bringing on Emi Buendia immediately after Ouattara's goal and later introducing Ian Maatsen and Danyell Malen. Brentford, despite a difficult summer which included the loss of Thomas Frank, Mbeumo, and Christian Norgaard, looked like their old selves, demonstrating resilience and determination.
The match was not without controversy. Harrington waved away Brentford protests claiming Tielemans had handled in the box, but replays showed Collins had headed against Tielemans' back. A VAR decision also led to a controversial disallowed goal by Damsgaard.
As the match drew to a close, Tyrone Mings limped around, having pulled up towards the end of the game. Henderson received a standing ovation as he was substituted for Frank Onyeka. Despite the challenges, Brentford held on to secure a hard-fought victory, continuing their impressive form in the Premier League.
