Gary Thompson
Ex-Aston Villa forward on BBC WM

"That's a very well-worked goal. There was about 15-20 passes in that move, and that's how they need to get Scott Hogan involved."

That goal has brought the crowd to life at Griffin Park after a pretty quiet start to the match.

Aston Villa had the better of the early stages, but they haven't provided much threat since Albert Adomah was hurt inside the first 10 minutes.

Sergi Canos is providing a consistent threat for Brentford down the left at the other end, the Spanish winger winning a corner which Villa are able to clear.

Gary Thompson
Ex-Aston Villa forward on BBC WM

"Brentford look confident and composed whereas there doesn't seem a lot of belief from Villa in terms of what they're trying to do. And they haven't had a shot on goal."

Alan Hutton is stopped by a crunching - but fair - challenge down the Villa right, allowing Brentford to break.

The Bees work the ball forward to Lasse Vibe, but his shot is quickly blocked, trickling harmlessly through to keeper Sam Johnstone.

Albert Adomah has looked far from fully fit since being hurt by Florian Jozefzoon's challenge.

The Villa winger, arguably their best performer this season, is taken off to be replaced by Joshua Onomah.

If memory serves me right, I think I might have had both of these two sides finishing in the play-off places in my (pretty hopeless) pre-season predictions.

Neither have quite lived up those optimistic expectations so far, though Villa could get themselves in the top six if they win by two goals tonight.

The visitors almost find themselves behind though, as Alan Hutton fails to control the ball, allowing Sergi Canos to get a shot away from the edge of the area.

Sam Johnstone gets down to his left to push it behind.

Brentford see a bit of the ball inside the Aston Villa half for the first time, with a set-piece routine that nearly catches their opponents off-guard.

A free-kick from 10 metres inside the Villa half is taken short, before the ball is lifted towards the edge of the box into the path of an unmarked Josh McEachran.

The visitors' defence reacts just in time to cut out the Brentford midfielder's ball across the box. Clever stuff.

Albert Adomah comes back on to the pitch after a lengthy period of treatment following that Jozefzoon challenge.

Robert Snodgrass can't hit the target with his free-kick, instead drilling the ball straight into the wall.

Brentford having to do all the defending in the early stages, with Chris Mepham making another strong challenge to keep the ball away from the danger area.

Florian Jozefzoon concedes a free-kick on the edge of the Bees box for a foul on Villa winger Albert Adomah...

Scott Hogan's second involvement sees him pick the ball up and drive at the Brentford defence, but he's stopped by a strong challenge from young centre-half Chris Mepham.

Not the best conditions for football tonight it has to be said, a thin rain leaving the Griffin Park surface looking a little too slick and slippery for a flowing game.

Brentford get the game under way.

Former Bees striker Scott Hogan's first involvement is to concede a free-kick for Aston Villa.

Not long to go now...

The teams are out at Griffin Park and we are moments away from kick-off.

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Scott Hogan returns to Villa's line-up on his return to Griffin Park, with Alan Hutton and Tommy Elphick restored to a defence that let slip a two-goal lead against Sheffield United on Saturday.

Aston Villa: Johnstone, Hutton, Chester, Elphick, Taylor, Snodgrass, Whelan, Jedinak, Adomah, Grealish, Hogan.

Subs: Steer, De Laet, Elmohamady, Bjarnason, Hourihane, Onomah, Davis.

Josh McEachran and Sergi Canos come in for the Bees but the big news sees Alan Judge return to the bench as his first appearance since April 2016 moves a step closer.

Brentford: Bentley, Bjelland, Jozefzoon, Yennaris, McEachran, Woods, Sawyers, Vibe, Barbet, Mepham, Canos.

Subs: Daniels, MacLeod, Maupay, Mokotjo, Judge, Chatzitheodoridis, Sorensen.

Image source, Rex Features

Newly-appointed Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis spoke to the media after watching them beat Bolton 2-0 at the Riverside this afternoon.

It's pretty clear that Boro owner Steve Gibson was pivotal in getting him to the Championship club.

"I'd had a couple of phone calls from other clubs before Steve spoke to me," he said.

"I had a long chat with Steve after they won at Sheffield Wednesday and he kept calling me after that.

"Steve sold me himself and the club - he's been like a dog with a bone really and it's been flattering that someone of his esteem and character has done that."

I'll run you through the team news for both sides in just a few minutes' time, but first a little update on the day's biggest Championship news.

Tony Pulis was appointed Middlesbrough boss this morning, and he faced the media for the first time as Boro boss following their victory over Bolton...

Image source, Getty Images

He scored twice for Brentford in their victory at Norwich last time out and forward Lasse Vibe was also at the double when the Bees last hosted Aston Villa in January.

They were 3-0 victors then, on a day which also saw Scott Hogan join Villa for £12m - the former Brentford striker has not scored since August, but we know how these things work...