Brentford and some match facts, Chelsea and new year

I missed the Leeds match but this is a good match to start again with. Brentford are not going to be easy but three points today could see us in eighth place if results go our way and we win by enough. I don't expect that to happen, but it could. And we have three games in hand on Manchester City, so things are looking good.

Not that anyone but Manchester City are going to win the League, we've played the same as most teams around us, it's that we're in a good place and three points today would make us all feel good.

But it's January 2nd and there are a few things to mention. Instead of the usual paragraph and because I've got to get up and getting busy, I'm going to list them.

• We were unfortunate against Chelsea and the changes they made changed the game. We will get better at this.
• Rumours that Jack is unhappy at Manchester City is just a rumour. But I ran a poll on Twitter and only 42.8% would have Jack back today.
• Rumours of the manager looking for a new left back are just rumours.
• Keinan Davis has joined Nottingham Forest on loan for the rest of the season - I'm hoping this will be good for him.
• El Ghazi is soon off. Reports suggest West Ham are interested. I can't see him staying and we should wish him luck.
• Danny Ings got a run out against Chelsea, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was off very soon.

There is more, but I really have to get up and get going. It's going to be a long day. Back in time for the football. But I know I missed something.

Match facts from the BBC

Head-to-head

• Brentford are unbeaten in the past seven meetings, including three successive home wins.
• The Bees' most recent defeat by Aston Villa came at home in an FA Cup fourth-round replay in February 1953.
• Nonetheless, Villa have earned five wins and two draws from their seven top-flight matches against Brentford.

Brentford

• Brentford's tally of eight league defeats this season is already one more than in the entirety of the previous campaign.
• They have lost five Premier League home matches, with only fellow promoted clubs Norwich and Watford faring worse.
• Their 10 Premier League goals at home were scored by 10 different players.
• The Bees are vying to win their opening game of a calendar year for the third time in a row, a feat they last achieved between 1990 and 1992.

Aston Villa

• Aston Villa lost 21 Premier League matches in 2021, the most in the division alongside Newcastle United and Southampton.
• Villa have gone 15 league games without a draw since their reverse fixture with Brentford in August ended 1-1. They last had a 16-match streak without drawing between January and May 1998.
• The Villans have won on four of their past five league visits to promoted sides, more than they had in their previous 22 attempts.
• Emiliano Buendia has either scored or set up a goal in all four of his league appearances against Brentford, with three goals and an assist.