Unai Emery’s European-chasing Aston Villa head to the capital to face Thomas Frank’s out of form Brentford in game week 32 of the Premier League. Here’s the latest heading into Saturday’s top-half clash…
THE BUILD UP
Ninth place Brentford host sixth place Aston Villa this Saturday afternoon in the Premier League as both sides look to put a big three points on the board in the fight for a European finish. It’s set to be a tense, competitive battle at the Gtech Community Stadium, despite the two team’s contrast in form.
Last time out, Aston Villa pulled off an excellent result against Eddie Howe’s Champions League chasing Newcastle United, dismantling the Magpies by three goals to nil at Villa Park. A first-half full of claret and blue dominance was capped with a goal from Jacob Ramsey, before Ollie Watkins continued his extraordinary goal-scoring form and bagged a brace in the second-half , helping to extend his side’s winning run to five.
Meanwhile, Brentford paid a visit to Julian Lopetegui’s Wolves last weekend but left the Midlands on the back of a 2-0 defeat, courtesy of goals either side of half-time from Diego Costa and Hwang Hee-Chan. This result made it three losses in a row for Thomas Frank’s side, extending their win-less run to five in the Premier League.
When the two teams met earlier this season at Villa Park, a rejuvenated Aston Villa thrashed the Bees by four goals to nil. On the back of Steven Gerrard’s sacking, the home side had a new lease of life and goals from Leon Bailey, Danny Ings (2) and Ollie Watkins helped Aaron Danks and Neil Cutler’s Villans to a tremendous win at B6.
The West-Midlands outfit have struggled against this week’s opposition away however, failing to win on the road against Brentford in the league since 1947! Can Unai Emery inspire his side to a league-double over the Bees or will Thomas Frank lead the West-London outfit to another victory at home?
TEAM NEWS
ASTON VILLA
Unai Emery will be without the services of five players this week, including defender Matty Cash. The 25-year-old has missed all of the last four games with a calf injury picked up whilst on international duty with Poland last month.
Cash has stepped up his recovery this week (as pictured below), but is not quite ready to return and Ashley Young is expected to keep his place in the side for the fourth game running.
Also out is Leon Bailey who picked up a knock in the first-half of Villa’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. The Jamaican missed the previous encounter with Newcastle United and, despite being monitored closely this week, has not been deemed fit to travel to London this week ahead of Saturday’s fixture.
Boubacar Kamara and Philippe Coutinho are also sidelined for this week’s game at the Gtech Community Stadium, having failed to return to first-team training this week. Coutinho has missed the last eight games with a hamstring set-back, whilst Kamara hasn’t featured since the first-half cameo at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago.
Goalkeeper Jed Steer remains unavailable with an Achilles problem.
BRENTFORD
Thomas Frank will be without three of his players for this week’s game against Aston Villa, including centre-half Pontus Jansson. The former Leeds defender who has recently announced that he will be departing the Bees this Summer, looks set to miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury suffered during the defeat to Newcastle a couple of games ago.
On the news, head coach Thomas Frank said: “Itβs bad news for us and for Pontus. Thereβs a small chance [he returns], but itβs a big one unfortunately.
βI would prefer to have Pontus, no doubt about that. Heβs our captain and a very important player for us. Itβs a setback, but it is what it is, and we have to deal with it.β
Also absent for the 2020/21 EFL Championship play-off winners this weekend is summer signing Keane Lewis-Potter, who has played just thirteen times for his new club this term. The former Hull City man is struggling with a knee injury, but could still play a part later this season.
Finally, Norwegian international Kristoffer Ajer is sidelined with a minor calf injury. The 25-year-old has not featured for Brentford since the 1-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park in March, but Thomas Frank has confirmed that the former Celtic man is expected to return later next month.
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A BIT ON BRENTFORD
Brentford have been one of the surprise packages again this season and have expertly dodged the ‘second-season syndrome’ under Thomas Frank’s stewardship. The Bees sit in ninth place heading into the weekend and, despite a recent slip-up in form, are still among the pack fighting for European football next season.
The West-London side have enjoyed plenty of success against the ‘so-called big teams’ this campaign, boasting victories over both Manchester clubs and Liverpool. Following the 4-0 defeat at Villa Park in October, Brentford embarked on a 12 game unbeaten run in the league (6D, 6W), before losing away at Everton.
The majority of their success has come at home this term – only Arsenal and Newcastle have taken all three points from the Gtech Community Stadium. Despite their terrific away form under Unai Emery, Villa’s trip to the capital will be no easy feat.
Ivan Toney has been a standout performer leading the line for Brentford this season. The 27-year-old forward has 18 goals in the Premier League – only Man City’s Erling Haaland (32) and Spurs’ Harry Kane (23) have more. Yoanne Wissa and Bryan Mbuemo have also chipped in with goals, scoring five each.
There is quality all over the pitch in this Brentford side, however. At the back, the likes of David Raya and Ben Mee have been terrific all year – the latter earning a nomination for the EA Sports FIFA Team of the Season vote. Full-back Rico Henry and former Aston Villa target Aaron Hickey have also impressed defensively.
Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen have formed a solid foundation in the middle of the park too, alongside the likes of Mikkel Damsgaard and Josh DaSilva.
Thomas Frank has certainly built an exciting Brentford team in the (near) five years he has been a the helm, but currently finds his side out of form and in need of restoration. The 49-year-old Danish head coac will be targeting a return to winning ways this weekend with victory over Villa.
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PREDICTED LINE-UP
Letβs take a look at my predicted line-up for this upcoming fixtureβ¦
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share yours now and let’s discuss?
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AUTHOR | LIAM DAVIES
Authorβs UTV PODCAST archive Liam Davies – UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog
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