A resurgent Aston Villa blew Brentford away at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon, delivering a scintillating display of attacking football to pick up three Premier League points.
Under the guidance first-team coach Aaron Danks, the home side were in front after just 65 seconds when Leon Bailey curled home the opener.
Danny Ings struck twice in quick succession, including one from the penalty spot, as Villa raced into a 3-0 lead after 14 minutes.
Things got even better inside a jubilant Villa Park when Ollie Watkins slammed home the fourth goal just before the hour mark.
Danks took charge of the hosts following the departure of head coach Steven Gerrard, making three changes from the team that lost 3-0 against Fulham in midweek.
And one of the players brought into the starting XI, Emi Buendía, played a part in the opening goal as Villa flew out of the traps and scored after just 65 seconds.
Despite being urged to shoot by a charged-up Holte End, Douglas Luiz played a one-two with the Argentine from a short corner before rolling the ball into the path of Bailey, who strode onto the ball and curled it past David Raya.
The Jamaican, taking up a role on the left wing, turned provider minutes later when he collected Ashley Young’s inside pass and put it on a plate for Ings to score his second goal of the season.
Riding on a wave of elation, Villa’s flying start to the match continued when they were awarded a penalty after 14 minutes.
Kristoffer Ajer pulled Tyrone Mings to the floor as Bailey delivered a corner, paving the way for Ings to notch his second of the game when he sent Raya the wrong way from the penalty spot.
The Bees gained a modicum of control after falling three behind, but they were struggling to create any openings against the home side’s well-organised and disciplined backline.
And it was Villa who looked the most likely to add to the scoreline, with Luiz and Buendía flashing efforts just over the crossbar.
Following a period of relative calm, the stadium burst into life once again just before half-time as the hosts threatened Raya’s goal three times in the space of a minute.
First, Luiz’s corner was flicked onto the far post by a backpedalling Raya before the Spaniard kept out Watkins and a low drive from Matty Cash.
Thomas Frank made two changes at the break, introducing Sergi Canos and Josh Dasilva in a bid to improve his side’s fortunes.
But there was no chance of the visitors denying Villa three points when the fourth goal flew past Raya just before the hour mark.
A scintillating piece of play from Bailey, who picked the ball up in his side’s defensive third before toe-tapping his way up the touchline and travelling 70 yards, created the goal, with Watkins slamming home at the third attempt after being picked out at the back post.
At the other end, Emi Martinez was rarely threatened by the visitors, who saw Bryan Mbuemo spurn their best opening when he hit the side netting with the goal at his mercy.
