Route one and resolute: Ouattara ignites Gtech as Andrews claims first home league win

On a night that felt like a line in the sand for Brentford, Dango Ouattara announced himself with a debut winner to give Keith Andrews a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in his first home league game. The goal, on 12 minutes, was quintessential Bees pragmatism: Caoimhin Kelleher went long, Igor Thiago’s flick turned the defence, and Ouattara outpaced Pau Torres before finishing at the second attempt after Emiliano Martinez’s initial block ricocheted back off Matty Cash.

From there, Andrews’ side mixed ferocity with control. They ceded territory — Villa’s 76% share of the ball underlined that — but they rarely ceded chances, restricting the visitors to two efforts on target from 17. Mikkel Damsgaard’s thunderbolt was wiped away by VAR for a foul by Nathan Collins on Martinez, yet the togetherness the head coach craves carried the Bees to their first points of the campaign and up to 10th in the table.

From Kelleher’s boot to bedlam

The move that decided it was as clean as it was direct. Kelleher’s booming clearance asked a question, Thiago’s deft nod supplied the cue, and Ouattara delivered the answer — blistering acceleration, a composed head and the presence of mind to tuck home after Martinez’s parry and the telling touch off Cash sent the ball back into his stride.

For a club-record signing barely through the door, the finish mattered; so did everything around it. Andrews hailed the selfless running and pressing that underpinned Ouattara’s display. His link with Thiago offered a valuable release valve whenever Brentford needed to break Villa’s momentum.

Identity intact at the Gtech

If there were doubts about how quickly Andrews could inherit and evolve the Gtech identity, the answer came in the contest’s raw edges. Brentford were aggressive in duels, sharp to second balls and happy to turn Villa when space allowed. Compared to last season’s more chaotic home swings, this felt measured — a collective compactness that reduced risk without blunting ambition.

It was also a reaction. After the limp loss at Nottingham Forest, adjustments in personnel and approach produced clarity. The players embraced the out-of-possession blueprint, hunting in packs and closing passing lanes, the kind of graft that wins tight games when the margins are thin.

Damsgaard denied, influence undiminished

Just before half-time the stadium thought it had its roar of release when Damsgaard smashed into the roof of the net, only for VAR to pull it back for a foul against Collins on Martinez. From a home perspective it felt harsh on a goalkeeper who had been under minimal pressure, but the scoreline stayed at 1-0.

Beyond that flashpoint, Damsgaard’s control and balance knitted the attack together on his return to the XI. He combined neatly with Ouattara and Thiago, and his passing helped Brentford carry a threat before the break and a counterpunch afterwards as they sank a little deeper to protect the lead.

Holding the line to the finish

Villa inevitably had their spells after the interval, but Brentford made the defensive third feel small. Kelleher was authoritative, smothering McGinn’s low strike and commanding his box as waves of possession arrived with limited penetration.

In the end the numbers flattered the visitors more than the reality did: 17 shots, two on target, and very few moments that truly unsettled the back line. With Yoane Wissa absent as he tries to force a move to Newcastle United before the window closes, this was a reassuring glimpse of a new-look front line and a statement that Andrews’ Bees will fight — and think — their way through the campaign.