Read John Brewin on Brentford

Thomas Frank combines football-man nous and being ultra competitive – he rarely admits his team deserved to lose – with an adaptability to modern, US-style front-office stats. He, Matthew Benham and Phil Giles, the director of football, have decided attack is the best form of defence, the low quality of opposing Premier League defenders something to be exploited.

Brentford’s influence and innovation are recognised. The Arsenal set-piece guru Nicolas Jover, now celebrated by a mural outside the Emirates Stadium, and the Manchester United coach Andreas Georgson worked as specialists within Frank’s coaching team. Giles has been linked with replacing Edu as Arsenal’s sporting director.

Aston Villa 1-0 Man City (12.30pm)

Brentford v Nottm Forest

Ipswich v Newcastle

West Ham v Brighton

Cardiff v Sheff Utd

Leeds v Oxford Utd

Sunderland v Norwich

Aberdeen v Hibernian

Rangers v Dundee

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