Brentford

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.

His guest for week 25 is Gladiators star Apollo, real name Alex Gray, who supports Newcastle.

Sutton says: You just wonder how much Newcastle have got left in the tank after their Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday.

The Magpies have a few injuries to contend with too, with Anthony Gordon their latest player to be sidelined, so they will have to dig deep and they will be hoping Bruno Guimaraes is back fit in time for this game.

Brentford got one heck of a win last time out at Villa, and their manager Keith Andrews deserves a lot of credit for getting that result despite being down to 10 men for the entire second half.

The Bees are always so well organised at the back and how Eddie Howe's side try to break them down will be the key to this one.

As good as Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade is with his back to goal, he doesn't run in behind. Doing that, and attacking with pace, is how Eddie Howe's side look the most dangerous - Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga will have to do that here.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Apollo's prediction: 3-1

AI's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

This is Newcastle's only home fixture across an eight-game spell in all competitions and a meagre tally of three away wins from 17 attempts this season intensifies the pressure on them to triumph on Tyneside.

They are unbeaten in their past 10 home matches against Brentford in all competitions, winning nine. Nonetheless, in-form Brentford are looking to complete their first league double over Newcastle since the 1934-35 season in the old Second Division in Saturday's meeting (17:30 GMT).

Toon and gloom

It's just one win in eight games for Newcastle, counting the FA Cup shootout success against Bournemouth at the start of that spell as a draw. A challenging season took a turn for the worse in midweek when their defence of the Carabao Cup was ended by Manchester City and Anthony Gordon became their latest injury casualty.

At 3-0 down on the night, and 5-0 on aggregate, Newcastle did at least belatedly rally to show some of the quality and fight that has helped them challenge the elite in recent years. They are traits that have not always been evident in domestic fixtures this season.

Substitute Anthony Elanga continued his improvement in recent games with a wonderfully taken first goal for the club, but Newcastle are yet to get the output they need or expect from him and their three other attack-minded summer signings at a combined cost of £209m.

Club record signing Nick Woltemade has gone 12 appearances without scoring and was replaced at half-time on Wednesday by ex-Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who's only managed three goals this season. Like Wissa, midfielder Jacob Ramsey has had an injury-interrupted campaign but, after 25 games, his industry is yet to translate into any goals or assists.

Bees are buzzing

Brentford have quietly moved to within three points of the top six and are on a trajectory which could see them challenge their Premier League club record of 59 points, set in 2022-23.

Not bad for a side who only returned to the top flight in 2021 after an absence of 74 years and lost their head coach and last season's joint top scorers, one of whom was Wissa, during the summer.

Keith Andrews, whose promotion from set-piece coach to head coach has proved inspired, hailed his side's "defensive masterclass" with 10 men in the second half away to Aston Villa last weekend.

Brentford's deserved 1-0 victory meant they have accrued 16 points from their past eight league games, a record only bettered by league leaders Arsenal.

Those two sides and Manchester City share the best defensive record during that period, conceding seven goals apiece.

Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle United at St James' Park (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• January signing Kaye Furo will be available for selection, while Reiss Nelson is back in contention after missing last week's trip to Aston Villa with a minor knock.

• On why Furo missed the victory at Villa Park: "We just didn't feel it was right. We've had to be careful how we've got him to a point. We've had to tread a little bit carefully, even though he's come in in a really good place physically."

• Andrews on being without Kevin Schade through suspension: "We're disappointed not to have Kevin. We'll miss him for the next two league games and the cup game against Macclesfield. Everyone else has come through a difficult game, for obvious reasons, having gone down to 10 men so early. It's a testament to the place we're in - physically as a team. We're pretty much as we were."

• Andrews also explained why captain Nathan Collins was dropped from the starting XI in the game against Villa: "He took a knock a couple of days before in training. He needed some stitches right at the end of the training session, which was really unfortunate. I felt it affected where the stitches were in his lip so I felt it was the right decision not to start him. Kris [Ajer] and Sepp [Van den Berg], I was confident in them. He was available, obviously. He wasn't fully right, but equally came into a battle."

• Andrews continued: "I think it shows the character that he has and that's why he's my captain, really. He's an amazing individual that leads by example on a daily basis."

• Teenager Luka Bentt made the matchday squad last weekend because it "felt right", as Andrews said: "Last season Luka came into a training session, ironically it was in the build-up to a Villa game, where we asked him to be a Watkins type of figure, closing down and running channels. I just liked him from the minute I'd seen him, so I've kept a really close eye on him throughout the B team games in pre-season. He's been integrated through our training sessions as and when we felt it was right."

• He added: "He's a player that I like a lot. He plays for Belgium Under-19s with Kaye [Furo], so they're pretty close, which is nice for Kaye to have a familiar face as he's come into a new country and a new environment."

• On playing at St James' Park: "It is a special place to play football. The fans get behind their team. It is a cauldron and it can rattle teams coming to town. Our players will have to deal with that emotion and the momentum swings in the game and show a level of calmness, composure and growth to deal with whatever is thrown at us."

Listen to commentary of the full match on Sports Extra and BBC Sounds from 17:25 GMT on Saturday

The second half is also live on 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 18:30 GMT

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford have had a great transfer window.

We have strengthened the only position in which we were light - striker - had two first-team regulars sign long-term contract extensions and moved on several players who rarely featured, for both their and the club's benefit.

I said at the start of the window that we needed a young back-up striker to Igor Thiago who would be happy to be his understudy for a while and we got that with the signing of 18-year-old Kaye Furo.

Meanwhile Vitaly Janelt, who was out of contract this summer, and Kristoffer Ajer, both regular starters this season, signed new deals to keep them at the club until 2030.

Keith Andrews rates them highly, as do us fans, and there was mutual delight all round that they are staying for the long term.

Meanwhile, a group of players who only ever made the bench or not even the matchday squad have left the club on a mixture of loan and permanent deals.

Myles Peart-Harris and Paris Maghoma, who were both in and around the first team without properly breaking through, joined Oxford and Norwich permanently.

Youngsters Yunus Konak and Gustavo Nunes, of whom great things are expected, were loaned to Oxford and Swansea respectively for the rest of the season and goalkeeper Matthew Cox was loaned to Shrewsbury.

The other key departure was Frank Onyeka who, in his four and a half years at the club, never really established himself as first choice in midfield.

His most memorable performance probably came in the famous 2-1 victory at Manchester City in November 2022.

The six first-team departures leave room on the bench for some B teamers going forward, with Luka Bentt the first to benefit by being a substitute in Sunday's magnificent 1-0 win at Aston Villa.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

Brentford have done the following business on deadline day:

• Brentford's first signing as a Premier League club has departed on loan, with midfielder Frank Onyeka joining Coventry. The loan move will become permanent if the Sky Blues win promotion. Boss Keith Andrews said: "I feel it's right that he goes on to pastures new because he's a really good professional and a really good person."

• 20-year-old centre-back, Benjamin Arthur, has joined Celtic on loan until the end of the season from the Bees.

This is your Brentford page. Hit follow if you're on the website and you'll see more Bees content when you visit us. On the app? Hit the bell icon and select news alerts. We'll then send you the best bits.

Follow the transfer deadline day live text

Watch Total Sport's transfer deadline day special for London, discussing the business done by Arsenal, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham, plus the capital's EFL sides.

The show, which runs from 18:00-20:00 GMT, will offer the latest updates and analysis on the done and rumoured deals.

Watch it here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you what still needs to happen before the transfer window closes at 19:00 GMT on Monday.

Here are some of your comments:

Jamie: It's not popular to do nothing but I think that's the plan. We are in the top half of the Premier League, are under no pressure of relegation and the current squad need their opportunity to keep growing together. This is a season of consolidation after the summer departures, with a chance of a European spot. I don't expect us to throw money at chasing a higher finishing position. We will shop again in the summer.

Jason: Probably an unpopular opinion but I'd have Raheem Sterling. Proven leader and classy guy. Exactly what Brentford need.

George: No need to open the wallet - we have been uncharacteristically lucky this season with injuries. It is, however, time for Frank Onyeka to move on - he started this season well and has an infectious energy about him, but his decision making in the final third is far too erratic for a team that relies on clinical decision making inside the box and doesn't generate enough chances to justify his wild shooting from outside it.

Ian: A box-to-box midfielder. Joey Veerman has been discussed in the past. Certainly no goalkeepers are needed!

Mike: Brentford are, thankfully, in a fairly safe mid-table position. With this in mind, I don't see any senior buys. Possibly a couple of fringe players leaving on loan or even permanently.

Ben: Get rid of Onyeka.

Ask us questions about Brentford and we'll put them to our experts

Match of the Day pundits Danny Murphy and Troy Deeney discuss how Keith Andrews set Brentford up defensively to "suffocate" Aston Villa, even after the Bees had a player sent off, to earn a 1-0 win at Villa Park.

Today is the final chance of the season for your Premier League team to do transfer business.

The window closes at 19:00 GMT, meaning teams - and fans - can avoid the usual late-night transfer scramble.

It has already been a busy window - for some teams anyway - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

Get alerts and keep up to date with all the latest news, insight and fan views for your club

Danny Murphy and Troy Deeney join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford

• Manchester United 3-2 Fulham

• Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace

• Tottenham 2-2 Manchester City

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford were exceptional. It can be portrayed as a smash-and-grab victory but the Bees deserved the points after a brilliant defensive display.

They were resilient, compact, organised and battle-hardened. They gave Aston Villa nowhere to go despite the constant second-half pressure.

Brentford had only 12 touches in Villa's box, compared to the hosts' 76, but the Bees earned their win through grit and determination.

The threat of Keith Andrews' side was downplayed at the start of the season, a rookie boss having lost Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to Manchester United and Newcastle respectively.

Andrews was aware of the perception of him and his side and they have gone about proving the doubters wrong.

A European place is within their grasp as they top the chasing pack in a congested mid-table.

Only three points separate Brentford and 12th-placed Bournemouth but, on this evidence, the Bees have the stomach and quality for the fight.

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Villa fans

Ian: A woeful performance from Villa. Someone signing in after half time would not have realised Brentford had 10 men. Villa huffed and puffed playing slow short passes outside the Brentford box without creating any real chances

Steven: Like with Everton, we huffed and we puffed but without any of our standout long term midfield trio of Kamara, Tielemans and McGinn we aren't able to turn over teams with that incisive pass or in transition. Fair play to the Bees, they dug in and took time out of the game - who wouldn't I guess…

Magy: If it's 0-0 when the opposition has a player sent off and, despite having more than a half to play, you still lose, you get what you deserve. Villa need to find a way to break down teams who just park the bus.

Ged: Just not good enough - Groundhog Day when attacking and hitting a wall of Brentford players. VAR should never have intervened as there was no clear evidence to prove the ball was out - therefore not a clear and obvious error - goal should have stood. Well done Brentford though, they defended valiantly.

Brentford fans

George: A thoroughly deserved win that showcases just how far our defensive stability has come - we have always struggled to hold onto a lead and have been wholly outmatched on several previous visits here. If only they gave you a fourth point for winning with ten!

Mel: Despite Villa's injury list (we know what thats like), its still a 'wow' for this victory. To beat Villa away with 10 for about an hour, shows high levels of focus & resilience. This squad and management team continue to impress (even after last weeks loss) and they deserve nothing but praise. Shade's red - well, let's hope he learns from this.

Neel: Disappointing judgment by Kevin Schade, once again. Fortunately, a massive performance from the Bees. A mature defensive display full of mettle. Credit to Keith Andrews for making changes early in the 2nd half.

Jerry: Silly from Schade to fall for the Matty Cash theatrics but a superb goal from Outtara followed by a brilliant defensive display in the second half gave the Bees a deserved victory. What does Thiago have to do though to get a decision go his way? It took two Villa defenders to pull him down halfway through the second half, but the ref decreed that Igor was the culprit because the two Villa players couldn't deal with his strength and were left sprawling on the deck. Onwards and upwards for the Bus stop team.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews speaking to BBC's Match of The Day: "We did pretty well and it was a game of two halves. The first-half we were excellent until the sending off with the ball.

"We played with personally and could have created more opportunities."

On the red card to Kevin Schade: "The red card did change the flow of the game, it never will change the resolve of the team because it is a collective in everything we do. Thiago being an example of how much you have to dig in."

"I didn't see it, but I have watched it back and I have no complaints from that. Kev needs to learn from that and he really tested his teammates and he will have to take them out for a nice dinner."

On his teams' moral: "There is a solidity, there is a grit, personality and growth week-to-week and month-to-month. I like watching us."

Did you know?

• This was Brentford's first ever win across all competitions against Aston Villa at Villa Park in what was their 12th attempt, while it was only the third time they kept a clean sheet away against Villa (also in January 1953 and September 2017).

• This was the Bees' first Premier League away victory against a team starting the day in the top four since beating Manchester City in November 2022. Prior to today, the Bees were winless in their last nine away league games against those sides (D3 L6).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back later on Sunday for a selection of your replies

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Ollie Watkins fails to recover from a hamstring injury to face Brentford as Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz makes their Aston Villa returns.

Unai Emery makes seven changes from Thursday's 3-2 win over Red Bull Salzburg, where Watkins came off in the first half.

He is not in the squad but Abraham starts up front with Luiz also in after returning from Juventus on loan.

Emi Martinez, Lamare Bogarde, Jadon Sancho and Emi Buendia keep their places.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Torres, Konsa, Maatsen, Bogarde, Luiz, Sancho, Buendia, Rogers, Abraham

Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Digne, Mings, Barkley, Hemmings, Onana, Bailey, Elliott

Brentford boss Keith Andrew makes three changes at Villa Park.

Sepp Van den Burg, Jordan Henderson and Dango Ouattara come in following last week's 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Nathan Collins, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Mikkel Damsgaard drop to the bench.

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Henry, Ajer, Van den Berg, Kayode, Jensen, Henderson, Janelt, Schade, Thiago, Ouattara

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Yarmoliuk, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Donovan, Bentt

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Manchester United v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Tottenham v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Aston Villa v Brentford" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Tottenham v Man City", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

It's transfer deadline day tomorrow, with the window closing at 19:00 GMT.

How would you assess Brentford's window? Do you think any position needs more attention? If so, give us names of who should be brought in. And what about who needs to go?

Get in touch with your views here

Youri Tielemans is the latest Aston Villa midfielder to be sidelined by injury. He has been so good for them and it is another big blow after they also had John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara ruled out.

Villa still put in an amazing performance to win at St James' Park without McGinn and Kamara last weekend, and I think they will cope this time too.

They could be a bit light in midfield and Douglas Luiz will have to go some to match Tielemans' form after rejoining on loan this week, but Villa still have plenty of quality elsewhere.

They have also brought in Tammy Abraham to help Ollie Watkins out up front, and Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers are both having brilliant seasons.

Brentford have been so good at home all season but then they went and got 'Dyched' by Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest last weekend.

The Bees really need Igor Thiago to get back among the goals to give them any hope - and he will probably score because I am going to write them off.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

Aston Villa twice faced Brentford in the opening month of the season, losing 1-0 in the league and on penalties in the Carabao Cup as part of a six-match winless start to the season in all competitions. While Brentford have continued to surpass expectations under rookie head coach Keith Andrews, Villa's transformation has been remarkable and relentless.

Returning heroes and Villans

Aston Villa are the Premier League's form side over the past 18 fixtures, earning 43 points – three more than league leaders Arsenal, with Manchester City a point further back and no other team in sight.

Nonetheless, Villa are now accruing key injuries almost as quickly as points. In the space of four games, first-choice midfield trio Boubacar Kamara, 2024–25 player of the season Youri Tielemans and captain John McGinn all sustained long-term injuries.

Amid such rotten luck and severe financial constraints, manager Unai Emery has opted for a crowd-pleasing approach – Sunday's game will be a homecoming for re-signed fan favourites Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz, as well as winger Leon Bailey, recalled from loan at Roma and whose last league start at Villa Park came a year ago.

The latter two signings fill the vast void left by Tielemans and McGinn, while Abraham provides the traditional centre-forward option more suited to Villa's system than the departed Donyell Malen.

All three new recruits have had their own injury issues in recent years and Emery is gambling on their fitness and form. As a loanee, Abraham scored 26 goals – all from 15 yards out or less – to help Villa earn promotion in 2019, while Luiz and Bailey were standout performers for much of the 2023-24 season as the Birmingham side finished fourth.

Will Brentford defensive strategy require a rethink?

Brentford have the joint-fifth highest points tally in the league over the past 18 games, amassing 29 points during that time, but they come into this fixture off the back of successive 2-0 defeats. The Bees haven't lost three league matches in a row without scoring since March 2012 as a League One side.

They've never won a league game at Villa Park in 10 previous attempts and only bottom side Wolves have fared worse than their eight top-flight away defeats this season.

Head coach Andrews said of the early-season wins over Aston Villa: "I feel it was such a long time ago for both teams. We've evolved but there's obvious things we can take from the two games that we've looked at this week."

One of those could well be adapting their usual tactics to lessen Villa's chances of adding to their league-high tally of 13 goals from outside the penalty area. Brentford are typically happy to defend in numbers inside their own 18-yard area and invite the opposition to try their luck from range – 37% of the shots they have faced have been from outside the box, the highest percentage in the division.

It has been an effective strategy so far, with no side conceding fewer goals from distance.

Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Andrews gave an update on the fitness of Mikkel Damsgaard and Kristoffer Ajer, who were both substituted in the first half in Sunday's defeat by Nottingham Forest: "It was the main reason I didn't sleep so well on Sunday night, those two coming off in the way they did. It was concerning but they're both pretty good, really. It's nothing serious. So whether they'll be available for the weekend or not, I'm not entirely sure on both of them. But if they're not, they won't be far off that. I was pretty worried."

• Asked about the Bees' recent performances, he said: "We're always looking to improve performance levels overall. We always want more; that's the reality of the industry we're in and the way we operate. We just want to be striving and improve everything we do on a daily basis and see where that takes us."

• On opponents Villa: "They are an amazingly coached team. They are very deliberate in the way they play. They have an elite level coach. He's had the vast majority of that group for a long time. They have a very set way of playing that can cause you a lot of problems."

• Reflecting on the 1-0 win over Villa in August, which gave Andrews his first win as Bees boss, he said: "I feel it was such a long time ago for both teams. They didn't start the season as well as they've done the last few months. We've evolved but there's obvious things we can take from the two games that we've looked at this week."

Follow all of the Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry City are making progress in their talks to sign Brentford defensive midfielder Frank Onyeka before Monday's transfer deadline.

The 28‑year‑old is also attracting interest from Sheffield United and is expected to decide his future within the next 24 hours.

Brentford have made the Nigeria international available for transfer after he became frustrated by a lack of first‑team opportunities under Keith Andrews, having experienced similar frustration during Thomas Frank's tenure.

Frank Lampard's Coventry sit three points clear at the top of the Championship but have just two wins in their last six league games and have not kept a clean sheet since 26 December.

Sheffield United are 17th but remain not entirely out of contention for the play‑offs in a congested table, nine points off the top six.