Two involved units of followers descended on west London after what they'd witnessed from their respective groups on the opening day of the season. Now there's one.
By no means earlier than had Brentford performed a aggressive match right here with out Thomas Frank on the helm and there are sure to be doubts over his unlikely, inexperienced successor, Keith Andrews. This win over final 12 months's Champions League quarter-finalists deserves to allay a good portion of them.
The club-record signing, Dango Ouattara, offered the one aim on debut, however it was team-wide reward of “spirit”, “character” and “resilience” Andrews highlighted when expressing his pleasure of their efficiency.
Any impartial may need recognized Aston Villa as the higher footballing staff for big intervals after a notably sluggish begin. The guests dominated possession by a substantial margin (76% to 24%), and the sport was overwhelmingly performed to their tune. However time on the ball is nugatory with out discovering a method to rating.
Their impotence excessive up the pitch is obvious. Unai Emery has admitted there's “nonetheless work to do” within the remaining week of the switch window and this defeat will solely have strengthened his desperation to bolster his attacking ranks. How he can have wished he had any of Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey, Marcus Rashford or Marco Asensio to show to off the bench. All 4 have left for the reason that finish of final season and no quantity of huff or puff got here even vaguely near blowing Brentford's resolute defence down.
Having mustered three pictures of their drab goalless draw with Newcastle final Saturday, Villa did threaten extra right here, not less than numerically, with 17 makes an attempt – their most with out scoring in a Premier League match since October 2022. That two have been on track advised a narrative.
“We have now to carry out with the gamers we now have,” mentioned Emery. “It's sufficient gamers to get sufficient performances for this season. However this week is the final week for the switch window. We have now some circumstances that aren't serving to us. My message is preserve calm, transfer on and work in the identical method we're doing.”
Brentford's well-drilled efficiency was testomony to a person nonetheless taking the primary child steps of his managerial profession. Conference suggests Brentford may discover themselves in a relegation scrap after dropping their inspirational supervisor, captain and finest participant, whereas Yoane Wissa continues to be excluded on match days as he does all he can to power a transfer away.
A pitiful defeat at Nottingham Forest adhered to that narrative, however 4 adjustments to the beginning XI yielded important enchancment. If that is what Brentford will appear to be this season then they need to be all proper.
Battling for every part on his first begin, there's an unmistakable sense Jordan Henderson shall be instrumental to all they do, hurrying, harrying and bellowing his method to midfield dominance. Add to that the vastly influential attacking duo of Mikkel Damsgaard, absent from the Forest defeat for the delivery of his little one, and debutant Ouattara. Each had the ball within the internet within the opening half, albeit just one aim stood.
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Ouattara's aim was route-one perfection, began from the boot of Caoimhin Kelleher, helped on by Igor Thiago's halfway-line header and accomplished by the previous Bournemouth man after beating Pau Torres in a foot race. The returning Emi Martínez managed to maintain out his first effort, however the ball ricocheted off Matty Money and again into Ouattara's path for him to fit house on the second try.
Damsgaard was denied what would have been a beautiful aim simply earlier than half-time when his thunderous end into the roof of the web from 15 yards was dominated out for a questionable foul on a flapping Martínez – beneath minimal stress from Nathan Collins – within the buildup.
Brentford naturally retreated deeper because the match wore on, however Kelleher was scarcely troubled. “The overriding emotion is pleasure,” mentioned Andrews. “I spoke a bit earlier than the sport in regards to the id of our staff. I felt we noticed that in abundance.
“Spirit and connection amongst all gamers. The togetherness of the group. It was full of character and resilience. These are stuff you want on this league. Our gamers delivered the out-of-possession gameplan fairly impeccably.”
