Brentford secured their first win of the Premier League season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at the Gtech Community Stadium. The decisive goal came early in the match as Burkina Faso international Dango Ouattara, who joined Brentford for a club record fee from Bournemouth just one week prior, converted a long punt from goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. The ball was flicked on by Igor Thiago, allowing Ouattara to break clear. His initial shot was blocked by Villa's Emiliano Martinez, but the Brentford attacker showed great anticipation to calmly finish the rebound.

The result also marked an important milestone for Brentford's new head coach Keith Andrew, delivering the club's first home league win under his management following his appointment after Thomas Frank. Brentford's performance was characterized by grit and determination. While they lacked finesse at times, the team embraced every 50-50 contest and showed immense energy throughout the match.

Despite a much-improved second half from Villa, who created more opportunities, they were unable to find the net against Kelleher. A potential second goal for Brentford in the first half was disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after it was determined that Nathan Collins had impeded Martinez.

Analysis of Brentford's display highlighted continuity in style from their previous manager, Thomas Frank, particularly in their home performances. Known for their diligence at the Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford conceded 35 goals last season but also scored 40 at home, a stark contrast to their aggressive and direct approach that secured three points here. This performance, following a disappointing 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest, provided a strong platform for Andrew and his squad.

In contrast, Aston Villa were largely ponderous against a resolute Brentford defence. Unai Emery's side struggled to break down their opponents, frequently passing sideways or backwards when faced with Brentford's numerical superiority. They had only two shots on target, with most efforts being speculative. The lack of attacking spark was particularly evident, especially considering their recent poor scoring record (three Premier League matches without a goal). Villa's final third penetration was consistently snuffed out.

Player ratings reflected the match outcome: * Brentford (active): * C. Kelleher: 7.94 * D. Ouattara: 7.93 (Goal) * M. Damsgaard: 7.69 * N. Collins: 7.44 * M. Kayode: 7.42 * J. Henderson: 7.40 * K. Lewis-Potter: 7.23 * K. Schade: 7.20 * Y. Yarmoliuk: 7.11 * Igor Thiago: 7.04 * S. van den Berg: 7.04 * Aston Villa: * C. Kelleher: 7.94 * M. Jensen: 7.46 * J. McGinn: 4.61 * Y. Tielemans: 4.53 * E. Martínez: 4.48 * L. Digne: 4.46 * E. Guessand: 4.43 * E. Buendía: 4.41 * D. Malen: 4.39

The victory moves Brentford up to 15th place, while Aston Villa remain 18th. Both teams face crucial matches next week.

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