Brentford vs Aston Villa Predictions

• Aston Villa’s last five games have all featured fewer than three goals
• Brentford have conceded eight goals in their last three Premier League home matches
• The Bees kept just one clean sheet in their 19 home league games last season

Tough times ahead for Brentford

Those Brentford fans who were underwhelmed at Keith Andrews’s appointment as Thomas Frank’s successor has their worst fears confirmed when the Bees lost 3-1 at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, and things might not get better for the London outfit when Aston Villa visit the Gtech.

The Tricky Trees raced to a 3-0 lead before half-time at the City Ground and while Brentford managed to salvage something with a late penalty, the warning signs are there that it could be a tough season.

Not only has Frank departed, but Bryan Mbeumo, their chief goal threat after Ivan Toney left, has gone to Manchester United and Yoane Wissa looks set to follow him out of the door and is not being considered for selection.

As a team who kept one clean sheet at home in the entire league campaign last season, there have to be concerns that they will not be able to turn things around immediately, even though Villa will feel they have plenty to prove themselves.

Villa need to prove themselves

Last year’s appearance in the Champions League has made Villa hungry for more, but they can forget about a seat at Europe’s top table if they perform as they did against Newcastle on Saturday.

The game ended goalless and while Unai Emery’s side can be credited with holding firm after defender Ezri Konsa was sent off in the 66th minute, they created little up front, posting an expected-goals (xG) figure of just 0.2 against the Magpies.

It does seem that they have more scope to improve though and they should be confident they can win at the Gtech again after posting a 1-0 success in March.

We don’t expect them to run away with things and backing a win for the visitors in a game containing fewer than four goals looks to offer some value, while those looking for a correct-score interest are pointed to a 2-0 Villa win.

Watkins should relish return

Ollie Watkins was on hand to score the winning goal in last season’s corresponding fixture and he will be desperate to prove he will once again be one of the league’s most feared strikers.

Nothing would please him more than finding the net again when facing his former club and after a quiet game against Newcastle, he can rise to the occasion and open his account for the campaign.