After just four wins in his last 23 league games and only 19 goals scored in that time, Steven Gerrard was relieved of his duties as Aston Villa manager after Thursdayβs defeat to Fulham.Β
With the search for his successor well under way, Brummie native Aaron Danks was handed the reins as Caretaker Head Coach to oversee a tough looking fixture at home to Brentford.
It was perhaps a good time to play the Bees, who have yet to really string together the consistent high intensity performances that earned rave reviews last season. Such fluctuating performances, coupled with a poor away record would have filled Danks and his side with hope of picking up a crucial win in front of a raucous Villa Park crowd. On their travels this term Brentford have only picked up three points from five games, including a recent 5-1 thumping at St. James Park, whilst at home they had turned in impressive displays against Manchester United, Leeds and Chelsea.
Despite these troubles on the road, Brentford boast a superb record against Villa. Winston Churchill was midway through his second term as Prime Minister, a Stanley Matthews-inspired Blackpool were on their way to winning their only ever FA Cup and Queen Elizabeth II was yet to have her coronation ceremony the last time Villa defeated Brentford.
BOLD CHANGES
The boyhood Birmingham City fan Danks made two bold calls as he named his first starting XI. Captain John McGinn was dropped after a series of disappointing performances from the normally reliable Scot, whilst Jacob Ramsey also dropped out.Β
New signing Leander Dendoncker came in for his first Villa start alongside Emi Buendia, as Gerrardβs favourite formations of 4-3-1-2 and 4-3-3 were shunned for a 4-2-3-1. The change of formation and removal of two players who had formed a backbone in the midfield in the last 11 months marked a significant symbolic break from the previous regime as Danks looked to lay his marker down. This selection marked the first time the ‘Moneyball’ trio of Bailey, Ings and Buendia started a Premier League match together.
Brentford made one change, with former Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer replacing Premier League stalwart Ben Mee in defence. Star man Ivan Toney led the line as usual and wore the rainbow captainβs armband, in support of the LGBT+ community as part of the Premier Leagueβs βRainbow Lacesβ campaign.
It was Emi Martinez, who took McGinnβs place as Villa skipper, in another decisive call from the Caretaker Head Coach. The Argentinian stopper would have been a popular candidate amongst fans to take on the role of on field leader upon news that Mings would be stripped of such duties. He may yet get the gig on a full-time basis depending on the designs of the next permanent Head Coach.
ELECTRIC START
The game kicked off and immediately Villa rushed onto the front foot. Within two minutes, after a delightfully worked corner, Leon Bailey swept home to give Villa a priceless early goal. The Jamaicanβs finish was Villaβs earliest Premier League goal since John McGinn scored within a minute against Manchester City in an empty Villa Park in April 2021. Villa have not always come out of the traps flying of late, only scoring in the opening ten minutes of a competitive match five times in the last 60 fixtures. Incidentally, the side conceded 14 times in the first ten minutes in that same time frame.
After coming under criticism in recent weeks, Austin MacPhee was mobbed by players and staff as one of his carefully curated corner ripped Brentford open, as Buendia and Douglas Luiz combined to tee up Bailey for his third of the season.
One frustrating phenomenon that Villa fans will be all too familiar with is the tendency to sit back and soak up pressure after taking the lead. Danks set the Villa rule book alight as his side swarmed all over the Bees.Β
INGS AT THE DOUBLE
Just four minutes later, the Lions were two up, as an incisive Ashley Young pass set the insatiable and invigorated Bailey away and his squared ball left Danny Ings with the chance to finish. And finish he did. The striker has struggled to make the impact that was expected since arriving last season, but his unerring strike offered a refreshing flashback to his time at Southampton where he had become one of the most sought-after forwards in the English game. The striker will hope to find that form again, and there is no reason why he cannot make a sensational return to the national team set-up in the coming months should he rack the goals up.
With Brentford looking like a stunned boxer holding on for dear life and waiting desperately for the bell, Toney and co. will not have been pleased to hear from their corner that only a quarter of the round had elapsed.
Just minutes later, Villa were offered the chance to add a deserved third. Ajer may have taken the boxing analogy too far, as he entered into a clinch with Tyrone Mings. The Norwegian did not let go of Mingsβ shirt as Villaβs centre back moved towards a swinging corner and Darren England pointed to the spot.
The now rejuvenated Danny Ings stepped up and confidently caressed the ball down the middle to beat David Raya.
MIDFIELD SUPREMACY
After a scintillating and incisive first 15 minutes, Villa could not add to their impressive goals haul before the break. This was not to say that the intensity or quality faltered even for a moment. Douglas Luiz and Leander Dendoncker were particularly impressive and dominated their adversaries. The former, playing his preferred floating role, pressed Brentfordβs middle men high up the pitch and created attacking situations at will, whilst the latter put in a Rolls Royce performance in the centre of the park, winning his physical battles and failing to provide anything other than a perfect pass to his teammates.
Brentford managed to muster up one shot on target as Villa continued to threaten at the other end. Despite conceding three, the fabulous David Raya was in inspired form to deny Ollie Watkins, Matty Cash and Douglas Luiz.
Darren Englandβs half time whistle was met with a roar across the famous Villa Park stands, although there was an element of disappointment that such a breath-taking half of football had to come to an end.Β
The interval gave Brentford a chance to collect their thoughts and compose themselves after that whirlwind first 45. Frankβs side improved after the break, but Villa continued to dominate the crucial midfield battle and once again looked the more threatening team going forward.
OLLIE’S RELIEF
After scoring three in the first 14 minutes earlier, Villa had to settle for just the one goal in the opening 14 minutes of this half. From deep inside Claret and Blue territory, Bailey manufactured enough space to get out and his quick feet kept the ball in play. After a clinical one-two with Danny Ings, Brentford were once again cut wide open and Bailey squared to the tireless Ollie Watkins. A combination of over-exuberant finishing and superb goalkeeping looked to have thwarted Watkins, but the forward was persistent and claimed a richly deserved goal as he lashed in with his weak foot.
It was smiles all round for Watkins and his teammates. It has been well documented that the former Brentford man has not been at his best this season, especially in front of goal, so this goal will have meant more than most. Watkins is a hugely popular figure in the dressing room and so it was little surprise to see the unbridled joy on the faces of his adoring teammates. They know how hard he has worked and are grateful for all the dirty work he performs for the side. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but the image of Watkins celebrating his goal evoked one word in particular; relief.
Despite all the important and often invisible work that he does for the team, ultimately for an international forward like Watkins the currency is goals and assists. Like Ings and Bailey then, Watkins will hope that a change of management and the freedom that comes with it, alongside such a positive performance on Sunday can start to turn the tide of this season.
Both sides made their allotted five substitutions and Brentford began to take control of possession, but Villa were set up well defensively and, apart from a late Mbeumo miss, never really looked like conceding.
EVERGREEN ASH
The five lads at the back were all great value for their clean sheet, with a special mention once again going to the evergreen Ashley Young, who will provide fierce competition for French international Lucas Digne when he is fit again. In fact, it may be argued, it will be Digne providing the competition to Young. The elder statesman continues to roll back the years when going forward, yet not one Villa fan in 2009 would believe you that βYoungyβ would turn into a defender of serious quality and churn out top display after top display in the Premier League at the age of 37.
There is real talent littered throughout the squad. Players such as Ramsey, McGinn, Chambers and Coutinho found themselves on the bench on Sunday, and that is a testament to the quality and competition that is present in the squad. It is now time for that quality to be nurtured and enhanced and for the potential in the ranks to be fulfilled.Β
NEW DAWN
Sunday was a much-needed tonic for everyone involved with Villa after the last seven gloomy months. As Danks made evident though, it is just one win and one good performance and this needs to become the default for a club like Aston Villa. This is not to say that the way in which Villa dismantled a well-coached Brentford side should not be celebrated, especially after what has been served up to fans recently.
It is amazing what a change to the collective psychology around Bodymoor Heath and Villa Park this change has made. Players seem to have a weight lifted off their shoulders, coaches such as MacPhee and Danks seem to be relishing their increased responsibility and fans were filled with the all hope that accompanies a new dawn. Steven Gerrard is a good manager and will go on to succeed elsewhere, but on Sunday the mismatch that was Gerrard and Aston Villa was cast into the spotlight in a stark manner. His tactical aspirations just did not align with the squad of players he had at his disposal. Aaron Danks seemed all too aware of that, as he made big calls to deploy players into a system in which they were all suited and that could get at Brentfordβs weaknesses, even if it meant leaving out some talented stars.
Winning is infectious, and Villa will want to collect more points in the coming weeks despite a difficult fixture run. Newcastle, Manchester United and Brighton are all on the horizon, but the players will now feel well equipped to pick up some points before the sabbatical for the World Cup.
And Aaron Danks, Neil Cutler and Austin MacPhee and the way that they have all adapted to an unenviable task will buy the Villa hierarchy plenty of time to make sure they get the next big decision right. Whether it be tomorrow or next week, the owners know that the squad are in safe hands until the new Head Coach arrives, and that self-belief is flowing through the doors of Bodymoor Heath once more.Β
MR. CLARET AND BLUE SKY
Many names have been linked with the vacant role at Villa, and Brentford manager Thomas Frank was mooted as an outside option. Whilst it has been suggested that he is settled at Brentford, supporters of Danks may point to Frankβs lack of experience as a Head Coach upon assuming his current position and the success that he has had since as a reason why the Brummieβs hat may be thrown into the ring as a candidate for the top job. It is unlikely to be Danks, with plenty of other quality coaches in the equation, but he has not done his reputation for future roles any harm.
The Caretaker Head Coach may be a Blue Nose, but right now he is our very own Mr. Claret and Blue Sky!
Danks is right that we should not get carried away, but it has been a rough year. We have scored four goals in a Premier League match for only the second time in two years and have finally beaten Brentford, so enjoy it Villans and have a great week, UTV!
AUTHOR | JOEY MILLINGTON
Authorβs UTV PODCAST archiveΒ Joey Millington | UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog
UTV PODCAST HQ | LATEST NEWS
DONATE
UTVPODCAST | An Aston Villa Blogβ is now accepting small donations, which will help to support the site’s ongoing evolution.
Thank you so much for your support.
VILLA BELLAS
Villa Bellas is the Official AVFC Womenβs Network. In an unequal and often unrelenting world we work to break down barriers for equality.
Our network aims to raise the voice of women and non-binary people at @AVFCOfficial We support inclusion & diversity and with our allies, we can challenge sexism and misogyny, creating a safe and welcoming environment for the fans in the stands and the women on the pitch.
Let’s celebrate ourselves and champion each other while having fun doing it!
Twitter: @villabellas Instagram: @villa.bellas
SUBSCRIBE
Enjoying this article – then please subscribe to UTVPODCAST | An Aston Villa Blog to help us grow and support the site; you’ll receive instant email notifications of all released article.
Plus, it’s completely free.
PARTNERS
UTVPODCAST is pleased to partner with Official AVFC Store, Fanatics, Kitbag, and Classic Football Shirts. Throughout the season, we will bring you special offers and discount codes.
ASTON VILLA | KITBAG
ASTON VILLA | AVFC STORE
2022/23 Aston Villa – Shop Now
ASTON VILLA | CLASSIC FOOTBALL SHIRTS
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook and Twitter readers, click the respective icon below to follow our utvpodcast social media accounts.
