The victory will come as a huge relief to Emery, who bemoaned Villa’s lack of cutting edge in Sunday’s loss at Chelsea but will be delighted with how his side took their chances in the first half against Brentford.
There were one or two stray passes from the hosts in the early stages but Rogers’ fourth league goal of the campaign – a personal best for the 22-year-old – helped Villa find their groove.
Leon Bailey did brilliantly to pick out Watkins’ run in the build-up to Villa’s penalty, although the latter was relieved to see the ball nestle in the corner after Flekken got a hand to the shot.
Watkins has now scored 36 Premier League goals at Villa Park, and only some fine second-half goalkeeping from Flekken prevented the forward from equalling Dwight Yorke’s club-record tally of 37.
Damsgaard’s second-half effort reduced the arrears after Cash had powered home his first of the campaign, but there was little prospect of a repeat of last season’s remarkable 3-3 draw between the teams as Villa continued to create the better openings.
Duran – without a Premier League goal since September – was denied twice by Flekken after replacing Watkins midway through the second half as the hosts ended the game on 20 attempts, their highest total in a league match this season.
