Why do we struggle so much against Brentford?

[SoccerHQ]

They are undoubtedly our new bogey team in league football, the modern day Leicester City.

Why do we struggle so much against them? Just a bad match up in styles as we don't have as bad a record against other passing teams in this division e.g. Wolves last year. Or do we struggle to get up for things as "it's only Brentford." Dean Smith wanting to impress his future employers?

Don't see us winning on Wednesday so that could be 5 matches without a win v them, Wiped the floor against us twice at Griffin Park and should've won comfortably at VP last season.

[aj2k77]

They pass and move round us like we are traffic cones.

[CT]

They pass and move round us like we are traffic cones.

Beat me to it!!

[ADVILLAFAN]

I didn’t think we were brilliant against Swansea in the top flight and they always played good passing football too.

Woods in particular, always seems to play superbly against us.

[Steve67]

I think they play in-between the lines, into the gaps that Villa don't cover because we are very rigid.  The play nice football and are all comfortable on the ball.  To beat them we have to close down a lot quicker, match their movement, hope for good finishing when we get chances but above all work as hard as they do.  I think they have 11 players who are comfortable on the ball, they don't waste possession too often.  I doubt Dean Smith would find working with our team as easy as he does with his, as they are hand picked for their ability to play their way.  I'd very much like to see him try through.   Only a handful of our side would be comfortable playing their way at the current time. 

[SoccerHQ]

I didn’t think we were brilliant against Swansea in the top flight and they always played good passing football too.

Woods in particular, always seems to play superbly against us.

Swansea were actually one of the few teams we had an o.k record against under Lambert.

[PeterWithesShin]

Our record against Swansea in the PL was W1 D3 L6.

[CT]

Our record against Swansea in the PL was W1 D3 L6.

I remember the home game when they'd just come up to the PL. Many of us were hoping for a good home win, but Brendan Rodgers team absolutely passed us to bits.

[Steve67]

I guess it opens the debate again about the now defunct 'Villa engine', which would never work under a Bruce regime because of the style of football we play. Smith or Rodgers would want to build it, Bruce isn't the man to endorse it.  I doubt the Villa board at the time were noused up enough to spot that error but hopefully, the new CEO will be.

[SoccerHQ]

Our record against Swansea in the PL was W1 D3 L6.

Was more on about the early days. McLeish took 4 points off them for example as did Lambert in his first season. Lambert always knew how to counter Brendan Rodgers teams when you look at how good his record was at Anfield.

Of course Swansea then started beating us but then pretty much every team had winning records v us in our last two prem seasons.

[PeterWithesShin]

Our record against Swansea in the PL was W1 D3 L6.

Was more on about the early days. McLeish took 4 points off them for example as did Lambert in his first season. Lambert always knew how to counter Brendan Rodgers teams when you look at how good his record was at Anfield.

Of course Swansea then started beating us but then pretty much every team had winning records v us in our last two prem seasons.

How did they both take 4 points if we only beat them once? 

McLeish took 1 point from the 2 games without us scoring.

[SoccerHQ]

Opps...talking about Lambert here is a problem as I thought for some reason us winning 3-2 v his Norwich team in November 2011 was against Swansea for some reason!

You're right but we did only lose one of our first five league games against Swansea in premier league.....I think.

[PeterWithe]

Did Woods move on in the end?

[SoccerHQ]

Still there. Move to Swansea fell through on deadline day. Don't think he's played in either of their games.

[PeterWithe]

Ta