Brentford and Aston Villa both stumbled on opening day, and each will be desperate to find a response on Saturday at the Gtech Community Stadium.

• Aston Villa are undefeated across their five competitive clashes with Brentford since Unai Emery’s arrival, recording three wins and two draws in that time.

• Five of the last seven meetings between these sides have produced over 2.5 goals; both teams have scored in six of the previous eight.

• Watkins has scored in each of his last five appearances against his former club, totalling six goals over that period.

🔴 Vulnerable Bees Struggle Following Summer Exodus

Brentford kick off their home campaign under pressure, needing to show they can adapt quickly after losing Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Nørgaard, and Thomas Frank over the summer.

Last Sunday, they did little to dispel mounting concerns surrounding their Premier League future, slumping to a 3-2 defeat at The City Ground. 

The Bees created just 0.45 xG from open play, relying on a late penalty to find a way onto the scoresheet, all the while conceding four big chances and 1.83 xG as Forest ran riot. Brentford struggled to keep up, with mix-ups in possession frequent and fouls a recurring theme.

It remains to be seen if Keith Andrews, who was previously Brentford’s set-piece coach, has the answers for the questions raised not only by their last showing, but also by their first XI, which was stripped of quality over the summer.

🟣 Villa Blunt in Goalless Draw

Aston Villa also had little to write home about, as they ground out a dull 0-0 stalemate against the visiting Newcastle United.

They mustered no more than three shots, one of which was from a corner, and while Konsa’s red card is a valid mitigating factor, it fails to explain their limp showing up until the 66th minute.

At the other end, they allowed 1.43 xGA - a respectable figure given they were playing with 10 men for the last half an hour, and limiting Newcastle to just three shots on target is also commendable.

Nonetheless, a significant improvement will be required from Unai Emery’s men if they hope to challenge for a spot in next season’s Champions League.

📊 Brentford v Aston Villa H2H

Since Unai Emery’s arrival in 2022, Aston Villa has boasted a resoundingly stronger record than Brentford in this fixture.

Villa are undefeated in five competitive meetings under his tenure, claiming three victories and two draws over the period. This will, however, be the first clash without Thomas Frank in the Brentford dugout, a change that could alter the dynamic.

Last season, Villa did the double over the Bees, dismantling them at Villa Park in a 3-1 victory, before grinding out a 1-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium. The underlying numbers support that superiority, with Villa leading Brentford 3.73 to 1.83 in the xG battle across the two games.

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.