ASTON VILLA have beaten Brentford 1-0 after Ollie Watkins’ decisive strike.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City kicked off the weekend as the top four rivals clashed in the early game – Callum Hudson-Odoi won the match for the hosts with a late goal.
Liverpool found themselves trailing at home to Southampton but completed a second-half turnaround to win 3-1 and extend their lead at the top of the table.
Elsewhere, Ipswich’s 2025 struggles continued after a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, and a 98th-minute Joao Pedro penalty secured a 2-1 win for Brighton over Fulham.
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A battle at the bottom caps off Saturday’s Premier League action as Wolves host Everton.
Wat a goalscoring star
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has now scored six goals across seven Premier League appearances against Brentford – only netting more strikes against Brighton in the competition (7).
Only Phil Foden (7) has scored more Premier League goals against the Bees than Watkins.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – MARCH 08: Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa celebrates after the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Aston Villa FC at Brentford Community Stadium on March 08, 2025 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) Match stats from the Gtech
Brentford are the only side across the top four tiers of English football without a home clean sheet this season.
They’ve conceded in each of their last 16 league games at the Gtech since a goalless draw with Fulham in May last year.
Full time – Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins is the scourge of Brentford once again!
The former Bee netted the only goal as Aston Villa finally followed up their Champions League exploits with a Premier League win
The hosts huffed and puffed in the second half, but ultimately fell to a defeat that sees them seven without a win at the Gtech; from the best home form in Europe to being unable to buy a win in front of their own fans.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
90-3. Ooof! Villa survive another scare!
Damsgaard’s corner is flicked on at the near post by Norgaard, and travels right across goal before rolling out for a goalkick.
Any touch from a Brentford man would have taken that in.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
90. The board goes up to signal five minutes of additional time.
Can Villa hold firm, or are Brentford able to rescue a point?
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
89. Villa are engaging in some epic time wasting now.
Cash has already seen yellow for taking an age with a throw-in while Olsen is complaining about a bad back each time he has to do… well… anything.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
85. Watkins is played through one-on-one with Flekken and has the chance to seal the game, but his attempted lob is so telegraphed that it could be charging its readers a subscription to view its articles.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
82. Olsen dives to his left to deny Schade!
But still Brentford come forward, and it requires an decisive Disasi clearance to put the ball out of play.
A long throw back into the box causes chaos as shot after shot is blocked before Norgaard whistles one wide.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
79. Aston Villa haven’t had an official attempt at goal since Ollie Watkins’ opener half hour ago.
Instead, the visitors are having to rely on the ruggedness of Axel Disasi, who has really impressed after an awkward start.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
75. A first change for Brentford.
Mathias Jensen is on for Vitaly Janelt as Thomas Frank freshens up his midfield.
Fifteen minutes remain.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
71. Keane Lewis-Potter strikes the post!
It’s all one-way traffic now, and Brentford go so close to landing an equaliser.
Yoane Wissa puts himself about in the box and, when a right wing cross is cleared to the edge of the area, KLP returns it with interest.
Robin Olsen is beaten, but the Villa keeper can be thankful to the woodwork for keeping his clean sheet in tact.
From Jack Rosser at the Gtech
Aston Villa need a second here as things feel a bit frantic at the moment.
Emery has turned to Rashford to try and find the goal to double their lead. Brentford have not been at their best but are still posing enough problems for the visitors, who cannot feel safe at the moment.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
68. Marcus Rashford is on for Villa, replacing Jacob Ramsey.
The Villa midfielder’s last contribution was to be fouled by Kristoffer Ajer, a challenge that earner the Brentford man a yellow card.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
64. A nervous moment for Axel Disasi, and it’s not his first this evening.
In seeing the ball out of play, the on-loan defender slips and clatters into Kevin Schade.
The German doesn’t appeal, and that may have worked in the visitors’ favour.
Instead, referee Jarred Gillett points for a corner and VAR don’t disagree.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
60. Villa make another change with captain John McGinn making way.
Boubacar Kamara, sent off her last season, is on in the midfielder’s place while Tyrone Mings takes the armband.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
56. Brentford have been boosted by that VAR twist.
Suddenly they are moving the ball with more zip, and look eager to find an equaliser.
Lewis-Potter looks as though he’s found a way in around the back, only to be denied at the last by a thumping Disasi challenge.
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
50. Aston Villa think they have two in two minutes!
Watkins races through again, cuts back inside and tees up Rogers, who thumps a first-time finish through Flekken.
As the visitors celebrate, a couple of Brentford defenders put the offside question to the referee – and VAR are taking a close look at it.
It’s the ball through to Watkins that is under the microscope, and after much deliberating and line-drawing, the narrowest of offsides is the call.
A reprieve for the Bees!
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa
49. Ollie Watkins hits back at the Brentford boo-boys once again!
The England striker is sent clear on the left and when he cuts back in and strikes, the shot deceives Mark Flekken at his near post.
Watkins is a lot less animated than the last time he struck at this stadium, but it is yet another dagger in what was once Brentford’s impressive home form.
After their battle in Brugge, Villa are beating the Bees.
Who else?!
Brentford 0-0 Aston Villa
46. The second half is underway, and Unai Emery had made a half-time change.
Leon Bailey never got going in the first period, and it’s the winger who has been sacrificed in favour of Matty Cash.
From Jack Rosser at the Gtech
This was supposed to be a game between two of the Premier League’s most entertaining sides.
Villa have just about been the better side, certainly creating the better chances, but neither side are managing anything too attractive.
Emery will want to see Watkins, who is being booed with every touch, finding a bit more space in behind after the break – his impact has been limited so far.
Half-time – Brentford 0-0 Aston Villa
Little to write home about.
Brentford 0-0 Aston Villa
41. Villa captain John McGinn goes into the book for catching Yoane Wissa with a raised arm.
The Scot pleads his innocence but Jarred Gillett isn’t buying it.
Brentford 0-0 Aston Villa
39. There’s much debate between Lucas Digne and Leon Bailey after Villa win a free-kick 30 yards from goal.
Both players want charge of the set-piece and eventually it’s the Jamaican that wins the argument with the full-back throwing his arms up in a huff.
As for Bailey’s free-kick? Straight into the wall.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
