Midlands | Villa exit cup and remain without a win

Brentford 1 - 1 Aston Villa (Brentford won 4-2 on penalties)

Aston Villa’s difficulties at the start of the season worsened as Brentford goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson bounced back from an earlier mistake to emerge as the hero in the penalty shootout during the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Author | Peter Grainger

Stadium | Gtech Community Stadium

When Villa’s opener went in, their travelling supporters erupted with chants of “we scored a goal”. There was, however, no further cause for celebration.

A difficult transfer window and a summer dominated by debate over profit and sustainability rules have left their start to the season looking flat. This latest defeat only deepens that sense of unease.

Elliott’s strike failed to spark a goalscoring surge. The team did not register another shot on target until Cash’s back-post effort was saved by Valdimarsson in the 82nd minute, although Jadon Sancho struck the post on his first appearance for the club.

Brentford players celebrate

Sancho remained a peripheral figure on the left while Elliott operated centrally, occasionally alongside makeshift striker Donyell Malen, with £30m summer signing Evann Guessand looking raw on the right.

Elliott, making his first start since joining from Liverpool, had a few bright moments, but Villa’s clearest threats came in the final quarter after Ollie Watkins and Rogers were introduced from the bench.

There was some encouragement with the return of Boubacar Kamara for a cameo in a midfield hit hard by injuries.

In the coming week Villa travel to face newly promoted Sunderland before beginning their Europa League campaign against Bologna. A win is urgently needed.

The best Villa fan reaction

Dave: The front four on Tuesday were heavily recruited by Emery, yet none appeared comfortable in the formation. The team looked ponderous going forward, overrun in midfield at times, with Pau Torres exposing a weakness at the back. Perhaps adaptation is still needed, but another cup exit is alarming.

Kev: Has any player in football history passed the ball backwards more than Matty Cash?

Abdul: What frustrated me most was Villa’s slow, pedestrian, sideways passing, which gave the opposition time to regroup and play a low defensive block. The team chronically lacks a creative, forward-thinking player (perhaps a Jack Grealish figure) capable of breaking down a defence. Some players appear unfit, uninterested, or overrate themselves compared with their performances. Unai needs to select a team based on fitness and form rather than reputation. It is not a crisis yet, but time is running out.

Away end collage

Anthony: A pretty poor display. Villa did not push on enough, with too many players off the pace. Guessand’s first touch was dreadful and even I could have controlled the ball better. Bizot was also badly positioned for their goal. Overall, a disappointing performance, and if this continues, Emery’s position could be under threat. I wouldn't have expected to be saying that six months ago.

Nicholas: I am really concerned about the fitness and mentality of much of the squad. Watkins has lost a yard of pace and looked out of sorts, and he was not the only one. The team is in serious trouble.

Matthew: At least we scored.