Aston Villa moved two points off fourth-placed Manchester City with a 1-0 with over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday night.
Ollie Watkins broke the deadlock shortly after half-time, scoring his fifth goal in four appearances against his former club in the 49th minute.
Emi Martinez was carrying a small injury, so Robin Olsen replaced him in the starting XI and kept the club's fourth league clean sheet of the campaign in what was his first league start this term.
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Here is how the national media reacted to Villa's win...
BBC - No Champions League hangover
By Steve Sutcliffe
Villa's post-Champions League struggles have been well documented this term.
Prior to this fixture they had failed to win their previous seven matches played immediately after a European game, collecting just three points in the process. So this was a very welcome end to that dismal run.
And that they managed it without their influential goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and forward Marco Asensio, while fielding nine of the side that started at Brugge, was all the more impressive.
The Times - Villa buoyed by Watkins efficiency
By Alyson Rudd
Much of the second half was characterised by the manner in which Axel Disasi, the Chelsea defender on loan at Villa, celebrated a succession of important tackles to keep Brentford at bay.
After Ollie Watkins’ goal, Brentford dominated. Wissa’s header from a Mikkel Damsgaard corner rippled the top of Olsen’s net and Disasi celebrated every bit as passionately as if he had scored when he dispossessed Lewis-Potter as he ran thunderously at goal.
Disasi then slid into the highly-involved Schade but evaded punishment, with the explanation given to Thomas Frank that Matty Cash had played the ball beforehand. The Brentford head coach was, naturally, baffled. Still, that did not stop Disasi from punching the air — which he did again after a well-timed tackle to deny Schade a chance to shoot. Lewis-Potter then struck an upright with a fine strike from the edge of the area.
Sky Sports - Villa showed two sides to their game
By David Richardson
Villa showed two sides to their game, playing with composure and class in the first half before defending resolutely for most of the second.
Brentford improved significantly after Morgan Rogers' strike was ruled out for offside by VAR within 60 seconds of Watkins' goal.
Tyrone Mings and Axel Disasi made several crucial blocks and tackles to prevent an equaliser although the latter clumsily cleaned out Kevin Schade and team-mate Matty Cash after slipping in the box and survived another penalty appeal when Schade went down under pressure.
The Guardian - Villa maintain top five hopes
By John Brewin
The Premier League’s middle is where the juice remaining in the season is likely to be squeezed from. Saturday night the Gtech was recreated as grindhouse, two teams scratching and scraping at each other, all sinew and sweat.
For Unai Emery, playing Champions League football while aiming for the top five resembles building an aeroplane in mid-flight. To maintain the dream state that being in the competition has given fans and staff alike this season, Aston Villa must improve their away form.
With his team having previously failed to win after Champions League away trips, the winner from Ollie Watkins was vital for the domestic challenge ahead. It pulled Chelsea and Manchester City within striking distance.
The Daily Mail - Familiar face downs Brentford
By Aadam Patel
For Aston Villa, playing European football has taken its toll this season with Unai Emery’s side failing to win any of their previous seven games that came after a Champions League fixture.
Here at Brentford, they put an end to that dreadful statistic with a hard-fought victory that took them up to seventh and just two points behind Manchester City in fourth.
But it was a familiar face in Ollie Watkins, who provided the decisive moment with his 13th Premier League goal of the season at the place he once called home.
The Independent - Watkins haunts Brentford again
By Reuben Rosso-Powell
Ollie Watkins returned to haunt former club Brentford with the decisive strike as Aston Villa recorded a 1-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The England striker, who left west London in 2020, was subjected to jeers by the home fans as his clinical finish saw Villa continue their hunt for European qualification.
Villa, in seventh, now sit two points off fourth-place Manchester City, who were handed a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
