Brentford expect Ivan Toney to leave the club in the summer, but the Bees will demand £50m, with Manchester United among several Premier League clubs tracking the striker. (HITC), external
Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Brentford and Sheffield United in the Premier League.
Brentford are winless in their last six league games against Sheffield United (D2 L4) since a 3-1 home win in August 2013. They have lost each of their last three against the Blades.
Sheffield United have not kept a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League since May 2021, in a 1-0 win over Everton. They have conceded in each of their last 16 away games in the top-flight, at an average of 2.3 goals per outing (36 conceded in total).
Brentford are winless in their last nine games in the Premier League (D4 L5), with their last victory coming against Wolves in February (2-0). Should they not win here, it will be the first time since September 2017 in the Championship that they have gone 10 consecutive league matches without a win (a run of 10 under Dean Smith).
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has won all three of his previous league meetings with Brentford’s Thomas Frank (twice in the 2018-19 Championship and 1-0 in this season’s reverse fixture). During his time in English football, the only opposition managers Frank has lost his first four meetings with are Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter.
Ivan Toney has not scored in any of his last seven Premier League starts for Brentford, despite attempting 21 shots and having 36 touches in the opposition box across those games. This is his longest run of starts without scoring in the competition.
Oliver McBurnie has scored six goals for Sheffield United in the Premier League this season and has never managed more in a single campaign in the competition (also six in 2019-20). However, all of his league goals this term have been scored at Bramall Lane. The Scot has not found the net in any of his last 30 away games in the top-flight.
Brentford fans will benefit from a fresh viewing experience as part of a Premier League first.
The club has partnered with Genius Sports to provide "data-driven highlights for fans in venue and across social media".
Those at the Gtech Community Stadium will be able to watch in-game replays with augmented highlights including shot speeds, shot trails, player names and pitch maps.
Steve Watts, marketing services director at Brentford, commented: “Everything we do at Brentford is through a fan-first perspective. Whilst we rate highly for matchday experience, we are always looking at ways we can improve and add something a little different when attending a game at the Gtech.
"As a club that owes much to a data-driven approach, we wanted to meet the appetite of fans who are also extremely interested in this aspect of the game. We think the additional analysis will be enjoyed by the majority of fans whether attending in person or post-match on socials.”
Ian Westbrook
Fan writer
The next two weekends are likely to play a huge part in deciding Brentford’s Premier League fate this season.
The mid-April fixtures against teams around us in the table had always looked like being crucial, and so it has proved.
The key now seems to be maintaining a big enough cushion over third-bottom Luton Town.
This Saturday, we host Sheffield United, while the Hatters go to Manchester City, before facing us at Kenilworth Road the following weekend.
If this Saturday's results go in our favour – with a Bees win and a Luton loss – we will travel to Bedfordshire seven points ahead of them, knowing that avoiding defeat there will be the key.
However, nothing is certain and if we lose to Sheffield United for the second time this season and the Hatters pull off any kind of shock at the Etihad, then if Luton beat us, they could draw level with, or even overtake, us.
With Everton away at the end of the month, it is a nervy time to be a Brentford fan – but it is also heartening that we have picked up three draws with three sides in the top half of the table in eight days.
Saturday's game really was a thriller at the Villa.
Even though we once again lost points from a winning position, the point was a good one and can be regarded as a bonus, as we travelled to the West Midlands expecting little from the match.
And with our destiny still in our own hands, we have to remain optimistic that we will get over the line.
Ian Westbrook can be found at Beesotted podcast, external
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton and The New York Times' chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith have been talking about how a few clubs could be dragged into a relegation battle in the final stages of the season.
Rory believes that both Brentford and Crystal Palace "will still be looking very nervously over their shoulders".
Brentford sit in 15th and haven't won in their last nine games - but have had three consecutive draws against Aston Villa, Brighton and Manchester United. While 14th placed Crystal Palace are winless in their last five.
Sutton feels "Brentford will be fine" but Palace have a "tricky run-in".
We asked for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Brentford.
Here are some of your responses:
Villa fans
Kam: We totally threw away three points. A crazy nine minutes. The slight positive is that a point is better than nothing, and the fact we didn't give up and got the equaliser. It feels like a massive turning point in our season. It is no longer in our hands for the top four but, if we miss out, I just hope that we don't crumble away and that we fight until the last game.
David: We have lost all confidence and rhythm. We switched off to throw away a lead again. Carlos lost his discipline for two of their goals. Konsa is a better centre-back and he should be starting there. Luiz is now out for two games, just to make matters worse. There should be praise for Rogers, who is improving every game, though.
John: Villa's inability to hold on to a 2-0 lead is ridiculous. Leaving Bailey, Pau Torres and Tielemans out against Manchester City, to save them for this game, means nothing if they can't win these type of matches. I can't see fourth happening now, so let's hope fifth is enough for Champions League.
Rob: Watkins' statement [post-match] has hit the nail on the head there. With better game management and mentality against Brentford, in both Manchester United games, and the draw with Sheffield United, imagine where Villa could be. They need to summon those mentality monsters.
Brentford fans
Sue: Brentford have had a poor season through injuries and pundits are quick to forget that clubs like Brentford just don't have the big bucks to pay for players. However, you can't knock their effort in every single game. They don't give up and they haven't had 'lady luck' on their side recently to reap the rewards for it.
George: Say what you want about Brentford - whether a result goes our way or not, we seldom play a boring second half. This game was a fight to the finish, and a little bit after the finish too, with Toney and Collins having a few choice words with each other post-match. We have shown more than enough character this week to turn nervous fans back into 'Beelievers'.
Phil: They gave us no chance at 2-0 down but then we had an amazing second half. We are one more point nearer safety. I am taking my 87-year-old Dad next Saturday, so hopefully he gets to see us get three points.
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.
Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:
Luton have raised their interest in Blackburn's 28-year-old Republic of Ireland striker Sammie Szmodics but face competition from Brentford. (Sun, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesBrentford have dropped 30 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other team.
They have also not won in all competitions since they beat Wolves 2-0 on 10 February.
From 2-0 down the Bees produced a stunning turnaround and really should have held on to end their winless run.
Manager Thomas Frank though used his post-match interview as an opportunity to praise his side's comeback, rather than focusing on Villa's late goal.
"The mentality, the effort and ability to turn it around and go 3-2 up...it's all about the players," he told BBC Match of the Day.
Frank was also asked about team-mates Ivan Toney and Nathan Collins who appeared to have an argument on the pitch at full-time.
"Both of them are very competitive and I don't know exactly what they discussed," he added.
"But it was a little bit heated. If you can't do that then you are not in it together. It's fine. It's a little bit of friction and then you move on again."
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to Match of the Day following the draw: "This is why the Premier League is the best league in the world. In many ways, the most entertaining.
"First half, we defended very well and gave little away against a normally free-flowing Villa team. I am irritated about the first goal because we can do better than that.
"The mentality, the effort and ability to turn it around and go 3-2 up... it's all about the players. So I am very proud about that.
"It is irritating that we cannot get that win. We do so many things right. Sometimes you cannot describe why you are not getting over the line. Sometimes it's just not going your way. This time it was a deflected cross that landed perfectly on Ollie's [Watkins] head.
"Overall, another good performance. There are a lot of positives to take from the game. I am really looking forward to celebrating with the players when we get that next win. That's definitely around the corner. We just need to keep doing what we are doing."
On teammates Ivan Toney and Nathan Collins having a heated conversation on the pitch at full-time: "Both of them are very competitive and I don't know exactly what they discussed, but it was a little bit heated.
"If you can't do that then you are not in it together. It's fine. It is a little bit of friction and then you move on again."
Image source, Getty ImagesBBC Sport's John Bennett has been discussing Ollie Watkin's post-match comments on Final Score: "I have just spoken to Ollie Watkins after this crazy match. Frustration was the word he kept repeating.
"I don’t think Villa can believe they let the three points slip, after they were cruising with a 2-0 lead.
"But, credit to Brentford for a crazy nine minutes to turn things around before Ollie Watkins' equaliser.
"Brentford have now drawn three games in a row, and there are plenty of positives from today, but they just can’t seem to pull clear of the relegation scrap.
Here are the key facts and figures following Saturday’s game between Aston Villa and Brentford in the Premier League.
Aston Villa failed to win a Premier League home game in which they led by two or more goals for the first time since February 2022 (3-3 v Leeds United), having won each of their previous 19 such matches before today.
This was the 28th time Brentford have trailed by 2 or more goals in a Premier League game, but just the second time they have avoided defeat from such a position (also 2-2 v Leicester City in August 2022).
Aston Villa have never lost a home league game in any division to Brentford (P9 - W3 D6), which is the most times they have faced a side on home soil in their league history without ever tasting defeat. Meanwhile, Brentford have only faced Stoke City (14) and Halifax Town (11) away from home more often in their league history without claiming a single victory.
Ollie Watkins’ 28 goal involvements this season (18 goals, 10 assists) is the outright most by an Aston Villa player in a single Premier League campaign. Only Christian Benteke has scored more goals in a season (19 in 2012-13) for Villa in the competition.
Morgan Rogers – who netted his first ever Aston Villa goal – became the 16th different goal scorer for Aston Villa in the Premier League this season, excluding own goals, with only Newcastle (19) having more different scorers.
Ollie Watkins rescued a late point for Aston Villa who had earlier surrendered a two-goal lead against Brentford in the Premier League.
Watkins gave Villa a 39th-minute advantage, meeting John McGinn's cross with a powerful header which just squeezed over the line.
And Morgan Rogers doubled the hosts' lead 32 seconds after the restart with a fine, low finish into the bottom corner.
But Brentford responded with three goals in nine second-half minutes.
First, Mikkel Damsgaard's cross deflected in off Mathias Jorgensen's foot just before the hour mark. Two minutes later the Bees levelled when Bryan Mbeumo volleyed in Sergio Reguilon's cross.
And Brentford went in front in the 68th minute when Yoane Wissa tapped in Reguilon's low pass across goal.
Watkins denied the visitors a first win in nine matches though, heading in the equaliser with 10 minutes remaining.
Villa remain fourth, three points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, having played two matches more. Brentford drop to 16th, six points clear of the bottom three.
Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?
Villa fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here
Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.
BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:
All kick-off times BST
Listen to radio commentaries and follow live text updates here
Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.
For this weekend's games, he takes on darts stars Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall, who both support Manchester United.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Brentford were quite pragmatic in their draw with Brighton in midweek but I don't blame Bees boss Thomas Frank for that approach.
He is trying to stay in the Premier League, so every point is crucial and they now have a six-point advantage over third-bottom Luton Town, plus a much better goal difference.
I still think Brentford need another win before the end of the season to make absolutely sure of staying up and they will get it... but I don't think it will come here, despite Aston Villa's injury problems.
Villa striker Ollie Watkins is still a doubt with the hamstring injury that kept him out against Manchester City on Wednesday but Jhon Duran did well at Etihad Stadium and he will cause Brentford problems too.
Littler's prediction: I'm going with Villa. They've been very good at home this season. 2-0
Aspinall's prediction: I am going to go with Brentford, because of how well they did against us last week. To dominate and have as many shots as they did, was impressive. Maybe that's because our defence is rubbish, but I am going to back them here. 0-2
Image source, Getty ImagesBrentford boss Thomas Frank believes goalkeeper Mark Flekken is performing "at a very high level" despite there being no "stability" in the Bees' back line.
Flekken joined from Freiburg for £11m last summer to replace David Raya following his high-profile switch to Arsenal.
There had been question marks over the Dutchman's capabilities after a shaky start to the season, but in recent weeks he has proved decisive in results.
He made 12 saves in their narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City and on Wednesday denied six chances from Brighton and kept a clean sheet.
"I think he's been a top keeper all the time," said Frank. "The reason why we signed him was because that we believed he had a very good level.
"It's not the first time a player moved to another league and took a little bit of time to adapt. He moved to the best and the quickest league in the world. I think he has adapted quite well.
"On top of that we have had injury after injury after injury to the back four - at this moment in time our entire maybe preferred back four are out. So he hasn't had that stability to help him settle in quicker.
"I think in the last 10-ish games he has performed at a very high level. I think it's fair to say the start of the season he was not as good as now. That's natural, and now it's a good level and the level we hoped to see from him."
Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's Premier League fixture between Aston Villa and Brentford.
Aston Villa have won two of their last three league games against Brentford, having been winless in eight against the Bees before this.
Brentford have never won away against Aston Villa in the league, drawing five and losing three of their eight visits to Villa Park.
Aston Villa have won all four of their Premier League games on Saturday at 3pm this season, with these matches producing an average of 4.5 goals per game.
Brentford have lost 11 of their last 12 Premier League matches against sides starting the day in the top five of the table, including all eight such matches this season. Their sole victory in this run was against Manchester City on the final day last season, who had already been crowned champions.
Since their 15-game home winning run in the Premier League between March and December 2023, Aston Villa have won three of their seven league games at Villa Park, although they did win 2-0 against Wolves last time out and ended a run of six games without a clean sheet on home soil.
Aston Villa have scored 37 goals at Villa Park in the Premier League this season, their most on home soil in a single season in the competition. They last scored more than 37 in a top-flight campaign in the 1982-83 season.
Bryan Mbeumo has scored four and been involved in five more away goals in the Premier League this season than any other Brentford player, despite playing in just eight of their games on the road so far this term.
Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Aston Villa.
Here are the key lines from the Bees boss:
There are no fresh injury concerns but good news as forward Kevin Schade could feature for the first time since September: "Schade could be available and that's something I need to think about for Saturday. It will be very good to have him back. That pace he’s got is incredible."
On his side's recent form, with the Bees currently six points above the relegation zone: "We've never talked about being safe or not, or being in a relegation battle. The only thing I'm focusing on is the next game. I'm happy with points in two games in a row, an unbeaten run. It hasn't been since October that we have put points together for two games in a row. We should have won against Manchester United, yesterday [against Brighton] was a draw. I'm also happy with consistency in the way we defend as well."
On Saturday's opponents: “Villa are a very good team and Villa Park is a very difficult place to be and play. They have been almost unplayable there. Crazy, crazy good. So, we know it’s a big challenge, but if we hit a top level, we know we can get something out of it and that’s what we’re aiming for."
On coping with noise at Villa Park: "I hope we will thrive on the atmosphere. It’s one of the best away grounds to go to. Hopefully we can keep the crowd quiet. It will be difficult, but that’s what every team wants to achieve when they go to an away ground."
On Ivan Toney not scoring in seven Brentford games: "Most important is that he is getting on the end of chances which he did, had a chance last night [against Brighton] and had a few against Manchester United. It happens with strikers. Strikers are good strikers, they will go through spells where they are not scoring. In my opinion it is just a matter of time before he will score."
We asked for your thoughts on Wednesday's Premier League game between Brentford and Brighton.
Here are some of your responses:
Brentford fans
George: Playing Brighton is like looking at our slightly-more handsome reflection in the mirror. Our clubs are run with the same philosophies - they really are just a better version of us: for every underrated Dane we sign, they find a Brazilian wonderkid. We defended very well, and in a game where we never had the edge, I’ll gladly take a draw!
Chuck: A dreadful scoreless game. The Bees looked drained following Saturday’s tremendous effort against Manchester United, but against a well-drilled Brighton it is a good point. Hopefully we can return to winning ways this weekend at Villa Park.
Clarkey: A hard-fought point against an established Premier League team, another step towards a fourth season in the top flight. Three more than I thought we'd ever have. I still pinch myself as a lifelong Bees fan!
Brighton fans
John: The constant 'will he stay or will he go' surrounding De Zerbi has clearly derailed Brighton's season and it would probably be best if Tony Bloom shook his hand and said thanks and goodbye. OK we've had to deal with injuries but the constant uncertainty surrounding De Zerbi can't be good for the players.
Don: A couple of seasons ago taking a point somewhere like Brentford would have been satisfactory. But this does illustrate the enduring Brighton issue, where now expectations are higher than the team’s capability. As it stands, I'm not sure where any further points are coming from (home to Man Utd anyone…).
Steve: The season is fizzling out after promising so much. We still need to remember where we've come from but we can't keep saying this for another 20 years. We need to develop but we can't keep selling our best players. It's a joy supporting BHA, but we lack a cutting edge.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Premier League manager Steve Bruce is confident Brentford "will be fine" this season as the teams below them are not likely to "claw" back the difference in points.
The Bees would be fourth from bottom without Everton and Nottingham Forest's point deductions, but instead sit in 15th on 28 points.
"They will be fine because six points is an enormous gap when you are down at the bottom," said Bruce on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily Podcast.
"These teams below them have won a handful of times all season, so to claw back six points with eight games to go is not likely.
"Brentford have got enough about them and are comfortable defensively."
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from this midweek's Premier League fixtures.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.
