In a thrilling showdown on August 23, 2025, Brentford secured a stunning 1-0 victory over Aston Villa, marking a significant milestone as Keith Andrews celebrated his first Premier League win as manager.

The highlight of the match came from Dango Ouattara, who made a striking impact in his debut. The winger, fresh from his transfer from Bournemouth, took advantage of a perfectly timed long ball from goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher. A flick from Thiago set the stage as Ouattara skillfully slotted the ball past Emiliano Martínez just 12 minutes into the game.

Despite dominating possession with a staggering 76% and launching 17 shots, Aston Villa struggled to find the net for the second consecutive match—a troubling trend for manager Unai Emery.

The game started with Brentford applying early pressure. Mikkel Damsgaard almost opened the scoring within three minutes, only to narrowly miss. It wasn’t long before Ouattara took the spotlight, showcasing his talent with a brilliant finish after a rebound from Martínez.

Even without key players like Bryan Mbeumo and the seemingly departing Yoane Wissa, Brentford displayed a promising attacking dynamism, especially with Ouattara and fellow newcomer Michael Kayode making their presence felt.

Kelleher continued to shine, showcasing his skills with a crucial save against John McGinn’s late effort. Brentford’s excitement almost doubled just before halftime, but VAR intervened, ruling out a goal by Nathan Collins for a foul on Martínez.

The second half saw Villa ramp up their attacking efforts with close calls from Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendía, yet the elusive equalizer continued to escape them. A bewildering decision by Amadou Onana to shoot with his right foot instead of unleashing his dominant left capped off a frustrating day for Villa.

As the final whistle blew, Brentford left the pitch triumphant, while Aston Villa faced unanswered questions and a desperate need to change their fortunes in the matches ahead.