Brentford vs Aston Villa Prediction: Home-loving Villa can win away too

Aston Villa are loving life after getting in among the leading group in the Premier League with back-to-back wins over big guns Manchester City and Arsenal. While Unai Emery's team have won an incredible eight home games out of eight this season, they have a more modest three wins from eight away games, and will be looking to add to that tally at Brentford on Sunday (KO, 14:00).

Brentford's form seems to have deserted them with four losses in their last five Premier League games, but they have picked up 12 of their 19 points at home and will be hoping for an improved performance this week.

Team News

Brentford are still without star forward Bryan Mbeumo, who will be out of action for at least three months after having ankle surgery, while Mathias Jensen is also unavailable due to a thigh muscle injury. Nathan Collins has returned to training after an ankle problem and may be able to feature.

Aston Villa regulars Douglas Luiz and Lucas Digne are both suspended while late decisions will be made on Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans, who have minor injury issues. Robin Olsen and Bertrand Traore are still sidelined, along with Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia.

Match Odds

Brentford are 21/10 to pick up what would be only their second win in six games when they host 6/5 shots Aston Villa. The draw is a 5/2 chance.

Villa's last three games have all produced under 2.5 goals and that outcome is priced up at 11/10 with over 2.5 goals at 4/6. Brentford are 11/1 in the correct-score market to win 1-0, while Villa to win by the only goal of the game is on offer at 17/2.

Aston Villa to win @ 6/5

Aston Villa have done most of their best work this season at home, with an unblemished record and 24 points from eight league games at Villa Park, but they have enough quality in their squad to go on the road and take advantage of a Brentford team at a low ebb.

There could be a lack of buzz around the Bees' dressing room after four losses in their last five Premier League games, with their sole win coming against struggling Luton, and the Villans represent a far stiffer challenge for any team than the Hatters.

Two of Villa's three league defeats came in their first three away games at Newcastle and Liverpool in the early weeks of this season and Unai Emery has brought out some vastly improved performances from his team since then.

The Villans have seen off title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal in consecutive contests and can even afford to let their performance level slip a little from those dynamic displays, and still have enough in hand to beat Brentford.

Three of the Londoners' recent four league defeats were to other top teams in Liverpool, Arsenal and Brighton, but they scored only one goal in those games and failed to hit the net again in their 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United last time out. That was their first outing without injured forward Bryan Mbeumo and he will be missed greatly. That makes a 2-0 Villa win look an appealing correct-score option at 11/1.

Aston Villa to win and under 3.5 goals @ 21/10

Aston Villa have not lost any of their last eight games in all competitions and that run should continue with Brentford lacking the firepower to provide a strong test.

The Bees could be pretty toothless without their seven-goal top scorer Mbeumo and therefore taking the away side to win a game featuring under 3.5 goals makes sense. That is the safer option but those seeking a greater reward might also consider Villa and under 2.5 goals at 9/2.

Villa have prospered on their visits to London so far this season, picking up victories at both Chelsea and Tottenham, and this has not been a great campaign for Brentford to date, apart from a golden run which saw them beat Burnley, Chelsea and West Ham in successive games. Those nine points have helped them to a respectable place in the league table, but their more recent form suggests they could sink further down the standings soon.

Villa will have to adapt to the loss of suspended duo Lucas Digne and Douglas Luiz, so they might not be quite as fluent as they usually are early on, but they should find a way to pick up a goal or two and that may well be enough to win this game.

Brentford's draw against Tottenham in their first game of the season was the only time that they have been able to claim a point from a top-eight team in six attempts and Villa can extend that run.

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