Three games unbeaten, five points, and their key man Ivan Toney off the mark. It is some start for the 'bus stop in Hounslow' as their manager Thomas Frank described his Brentford side.
Their wide men, Sergi Canos and Rico Henry, are not afraid to venture forward, their defence is not shy of physicality, but it is Toney, 31 goals in the Championship last season, who will define their season.
He got his tally up and running against a makeshift Villa side — Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn went down with Covid and Tyrone Mings with injury — with a neat finish in the box.