Ings hits a brace while Bailey and Watkins also find the net

Aston Villa 4-0 Brentford: Danny Ings hits a brace while Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins also find the net as managerless hosts react to Steven Gerrard’s sacking with thumping victory at home

• Steven Gerrard was sacked as Aston Villa boss after defeat at Fulham in week
• Club had been struggling for some time but reacted superbly on Sunday 
• Goals from Leon Bailey, Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins gave them convincing win 

A penny for Steven Gerrard’s thoughts. In their first game after the former England captain’s brutal sacking, Aston Villa did more in attack in 14 minutes than they had in 11 grim games under their old boss.

Caretaker manager Aaron Danks, who helped England win the Under-20 World Cup five years ago, tore up Gerrard’s blueprint and he could not have wished for a better response. Villa have targeted Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Frank – in the opposite dugout here – and Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, but if they carry on like this then Danks may fancy his chances of a longer crack at the role.

With only 63 seconds on the clock, Leon Bailey had put Villa ahead and within 15 minutes the game was effectively won thanks to Danny Ings’ double – the second a penalty. Ollie Watkins made it four in the second half and Villa could have had many more. If he were watching, Gerrard would be entitled to wonder why these players rarely seemed to feel such freedom to attack during his tenure. He was axed less than two hours after last Thursday’s 3-0 humbling at Fulham, and this performance could not have been more different.

Aston Villa produced the performance of their season so far as they comprehensively beat Brentford

Villa Park appeared a much happier and contented place following the decision to part ways with Steven Gerrard during the week

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez 6.5; Cash 7 (Chambers 81), Konsa 7, Mings 7, Young 7.5; Douglas Luiz 8, Dendoncker 7.5 (McGinn 63, 6); Watkins 7.5 (Archer 81)s, Buendia 7.5 (Coutinho 71, 6), Bailey 8.5 (Ramsey 71, 6); Ings 8. Subs not used: Olsen, Sanson, Nakamba, Bednarek.

Scorers: Bailey 2, Ings 7, 14 (pen), Watkins 59

Booked: Ings

Manager: Aaron Danks 9

Brentford (3-5-2): Raya 7; Ajer 4.5, Zanka 5 (Damsgaard 62, 6), Pinnock 5; Roerslev 4.5 (Canos 46, 6), Janelt 5, Onyeka 5 (Dasilva 46, 6), Jensen 5.5 (Baptiste 78), Henry 5; Mbeumo 5.5 (Wissa 62, 6), Toney 6. Subs not used: Cox, Ghoddos, Mee, Crama.

Scorers:

Booked:

Manager: Thomas Frank 4.5

Referee: Darren England 6

Attendance: 41,693

Local lad Danks’ first team selection made it clear that he is not here simply to steady the ship. Out went skipper John McGinn, the man Gerrard had made captain at the start of the season, and Jacob Ramsey, rated so highly by Gerrard

In came Leander Dendoncker and Emiliano Buendia in a 4-2-3-1 formation that had attackers Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey providing the width, rather than the full-backs.

With barely a minute on the clock, Villa were ahead. Brentford switched off at a corner, allowing Douglas Luiz to swap passes with Buendia and set up Bailey, who drove home from 12 yards.

Brentford’s wing-backs could not handle Villa’s threat and the home side made it two in the seventh minute when Ashley Young played in Bailey and Ings had the easy job of turning in the cut-back at the near post.

Former Brentford striker Watkins came close moments later when Emiliano Martinez released him with a fabulous delivery from goal, forcing David Raya to turn a rising effort behind.

Ings then scored this second when Kristoffer Ajer hauled Tyrone Mings to the ground at a corner and in front of the Holte End, Ings sent Raya the wrong way from the spot.

In the first quarter of an hour, Villa had scored as many goals as they had managed in Gerrard’s final six matches. 

Brentford looked as surprised as everyone else to see Villa so fluent going forward, which they never were under Gerrard this season. Buendia collected Ings’ backheel and fired wide. 

Ollie Watkins answered his critics in comprehensive style as he got himself a goal in the second period

Luiz’s sweet strike from 25 yards flew fractionally wide, before the Brazilian came even closer by hitting the post direct from a corner.

As Brentford struggled to clear, Raya saved well from Watkins from close range and then kept out Matty Cash’s angled drive from distance. 

As for Brentford, Bryan Mbeumo was denied by Martinez when set up by Ivan Toney, but that was all they offered in the first half.

Watkins and Danny Ings, who for so long under Gerrard appeared incapable of playing together, looked good up front

Danny Ings put in one of his best performances in a Villa shirt as he scored a first half brace

Boss Thomas Frank knew changes were needed and he took off Mads Roerslev and Frank Onyeka, sending on Sergi Canos and Josh Dasilva.

It made little difference to the pattern of the match, though, and Villa went 4-0 up just before the hour. Ings’ clever touch set Bailey free on the left to deliver a low cross that should probably have been intercepted. 

Instead it reached Watkins, whose first shot was saved before Raya turned the follow-up on to the post. Watkins kept at it and forced home his first goal in nine games and appeared to tear his shirt in the celebrations.

Brentford knew it really was not their day when Mbeumo somehow steered wide of an unguarded goal after Martinez had parried Mathias Jensen’s shot into his path. Frank responded by taking him off immediately.

There were ovations for every one of Villa substitutions as the home crowd, who had turned so decisively against Gerrard, were in high spirits again. Villa will try to appoint Gerrard’s permanent successor this week but Danks has given them something to build on.

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