EPL: Emery's Villa Edge Past Struggling Brentford

Aston Villa defeats Brentford 3-1, extending the Bees' winless streak at Villa Park. Thomas Frank's side struggles to replicate their home form on the road.

Aston Villa finally broke their winless streak, defeating Brentford at Villa Park to end an eight-game drought without a victory. Under Unai Emery's guidance, the team had been searching for a win in the Premier League since their triumph over Fulham at Craven Cottage in October. The much-needed victory was sparked by a moment of brilliance from Morgan Rogers.

Rogers' exceptional curling strike from the edge of the penalty area found the top corner, giving Villa the lead. The advantage was doubled just seven minutes later, as Ollie Watkins converted a penalty kick after being fouled by Ethan Pinnock inside the box. Watkins' goal was a significant moment, given his past association with Brentford.

Despite dominating possession early on, Brentford found themselves trailing by two goals. Their deficit grew even larger when Matty Cash powered home Morgan Rogers' cross at the far post, further extending Villa's lead. This goal sealed a convincing victory for Aston Villa, providing a much-needed boost to their season.

Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken produced a spectacular diving save early in the second half, preventing Ollie Watkins from heading in a fourth goal for Aston Villa. However, the Bees managed to pull a goal back shortly after, courtesy of Mikkel Damsgaard's powerful close-range drive that left Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with no chance.

Despite Damsgaard's goal, Flekken remained the busier of the two goalkeepers, making crucial interventions to deny Villa further scoring opportunities. He produced smart saves to thwart Watkins and his replacement, Jhon Duran, late in the half, ensuring that Brentford remained within touching distance of their opponents. A late opportunity for Brentford substitute Thiago went begging, as he blasted his shot over the crossbar shortly after entering the fray.

Aston Villa's victory ultimately proved comfortable, as they held on to secure three valuable points and move up to seventh in the Premier League table, leapfrogging Brentford in the process.

The victory over Brentford will be a massive relief for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, who had expressed frustration with his team's lack of cutting edge in their previous loss to Chelsea. However, Emery will be thrilled with how his side capitalized on their chances in the first half against Brentford, showcasing a clinical edge that had been missing in recent games.

Aston Villa's early play was marked by a few stray passes, but Morgan Rogers' superb fourth league goal of the campaign helped the team find their rhythm. The 22-year-old's strike was a personal best for him, and it set the tone for Villa's dominant first-half display. Leon Bailey's excellent vision and passing ability were also on full display, as he expertly picked out Ollie Watkins' run in the build-up to Villa's penalty.

Ollie Watkins' successful penalty conversion took his Premier League goal tally at Villa Park to 36, leaving him just one shy of Dwight Yorke's club-record mark of 37. Watkins would have equaled Yorke's record were it not for some outstanding second-half goalkeeping from Brentford's Mark Flekken, who made several crucial saves to deny Watkins and other Villa players.

Mikkel Damsgaard's second-half strike offered Brentford a glimmer of hope, reducing the deficit after Matty Cash had scored his first goal of the campaign. However, unlike last season's thrilling 3-3 draw between the two teams, a dramatic comeback seemed unlikely, as Aston Villa continued to fashion the better scoring opportunities.

Aston Villa's dominance was reflected in their impressive tally of 20 attempts on goal, their highest total in a league match this season. Jhon Duran, who replaced Ollie Watkins midway through the second half, was twice denied by Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who produced crucial saves to prevent Villa from extending their lead. Duran's drought in the Premier League continued, with his last goal dating back to September.

Brentford's away form this season has been a stark contrast to their impressive performances at home, where they have been scoring goals with ease in recent weeks. Thomas Frank's side has collected as few points on the road as beleaguered Southampton, and their struggles away from home continued with a lackluster display at Villa Park. Despite dominating possession early on, Brentford faded badly after Morgan Rogers' opener.

The defeat extends Brentford's winless run at Villa Park to 10 matches, a dismal record that will concern Thomas Frank. Mikkel Damsgaard's second-half strike was the Bees' only effort on target, highlighting their struggles to create scoring opportunities. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken was instrumental in keeping Villa at bay after the interval, but even his heroics couldn't prevent the defeat.

Brentford's away woes are a major concern, with the team having lost 18 of their past 26 league games on the road. Upcoming trips to Chelsea, Brighton, and Newcastle in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals will provide stern tests for Thomas Frank's side. While Brentford will be confident of returning to winning ways when they host Newcastle on Saturday, they urgently need to find a way to replicate their impressive home performances away from the Gtech Community Stadium.