Ouattara debut goal sees Brentford beat Aston Villa in Andrews' first win

Dango Ouattara's debut goal saw Brentford defeat Aston Villa 1-0 and earn Keith Andrews his first Premier League win as manager.

Ouattara, who joined from Bournemouth this summer, capitalised on Caoimhín Kelleher's long ball, which was flicked on by Thiago, and slotted past Emiliano Martínez after 12 minutes.

Villa had 76% possession and 17 shots but for the second game in succession were unable to hit the back of the net, something which will be a concern for Unai Emery.

It was a performance that took too long to get going for Villa, and by the time it did in the second half, Brentford were comfortable in their mission.

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Mikkel Damsgaard worried Villa inside three minutes, dashing beyond two defenders and bending wide from a promising position and nine minutes later, Ouattara left his mark.

Thiago -- fresh from scoring his first Premier League goal against Forest -- manoeuvred to flick on Kelleher's long clearance and through the middle burst Brentford's record buy, carving between Matty Cash and Pau Torres to finish at the second attempt after Martinez had saved.

The Bees are beginning a first Premier League campaign without Bryan Mbeumo and likely too the wantaway Yoane Wissa, but in Ouattara and fellow new arrival Michael Kayode from Fiorentina, a rampaging attacking presence on the right up from full-back, a promising new era suggests itself.

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Kelleher, another new face who impressed, then saved well with his foot after John McGinn's low shot emerged late through a forest of defenders.

Brentford were denied a second before half-time when VAR confirmed the on-field call that Nathan Collins had fouled Martinez at a corner before Damsgaard lashed the ball in off the bar.

Villa began the second half brightly and went close through Morgan Rogers and twice Emiliano Buendía, though neither could hit the target. It did at least signal greater attacking intent from Emery's side.

A fine Villa move out wide ended with Amadou Onana bizarrely choosing to shoot with his right boot as the ball ran across him when Ollie Watkins' cut-back was aching to be lashed at with the left.

Jordan Henderson, making his first Premier League start since May 2023, received a standing ovation from home fans when he was substituted in the 69th minute. Now 35 years old, the title-winning Liverpool captain of 2020 showed the kind of midfield command that once made him a stalwart for club and country.