Brentford 0-1 Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins’ 14^th goal of the season fired Aston Villa to a third successive victory as they claimed a 1-0 triumph over Brentford.

Watkins’ strike early the second half, his 72^nd Premier League goal for the club – just two short of Gabby Agbonlahor’s record, proved the difference against the Bees at Gtech Community Stadium.

It was the striker’s sixth in his last six meetings against his former club as the Villans recorded a first league double over the west London outfit since 1946/47.

Morgan Rogers thought he had added a quickfire second for the visitors, only to be denied for offside following a VAR review, while Keane Lewis-Potter struck a post for Brentford as Villa held firm for all three points.

Unai Emery’s in-form side have now lost just one of their previous eight in all competitions as they celebrated their first away league win, and top-flight clean sheet, since mid-January.

Robin Olsen was named in Villa’s starting XI, making his first league start since last May, with Emi Martínez not included in Villa’s matchday 20.

Jacob Ramsey’s inclusion, with Marcus Rashford among the substitutes, was the only other change from Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League victory over Club Brugge, although there was no place in the squad for Marco Asensio.

Just one place and four points separated the two sides in the table heading into the Saturday’s evening encounter in the capital.

Tyrone Mings twice came to Villa’s rescue with superb interceptions in the eighth minute, before Nathan Collins diverted Ramsey’s goalbound strike off target at the other end.

Mings went close to opening the scoring himself as he lost his marker from Youri Tielemans’ set-piece but his side-footed effort was straight at Mark Flekken.

Tielemans then forced Flekken into action just after the half-hour mark before his header forced Ethan Pinnock to clear over his own crossbar moments later.

But the first half, in which Villa edged proceedings, ultimately came to a goalless close.

Matty Cash was introduced for Leon Bailey at the interval and lined up on the right of midfield.

And Villa made the breakthrough just four minutes into the second half as Ramsey found Watkins, he surged towards goal and saw his low strike take a slight deflection off Collins to beat Flekken.

Rogers thought he had doubled the visitors’ advantage following a sweeping break just a minute later, only to see his goal ruled out for offside against Watkins in the build-up following a VAR review.

Manager Emery turned to Boubacar Kamara and Rashford just after the hour, with Axel Disasi proving a rock for Villa at the back amid what was a player-of-the-match performance.

Lewis-Potter sent a 20-yard effort against the base of a post in the 71^st minute as Brentford pressed for a leveller.

Watkins then turned and fired just wide as the clash entered the latter stages before the England international was denied by Flekken having raced clean through.

Brentford continued to push for a late equaliser during a frenetic finale, but it was the 1,711 travelling faithful who were celebrating at the final whistle as Villa moved unbeaten in six meetings against the Bees.