Both sides struggled in a cagey first half. Tyrone Mings poked a shot straight at Mark Flekken before Ethan Pinnock deflected Youri Tielemans's header on to the roof of the net.

Watkins came back to haunt his former club early in the second half, beating Mark Flekken at his near post to score the winner, thanks to a slight deflection.

Morgan Rogers thought he had doubled Villa's lead just over a minute later, coolly firing past the goalkeeper under pressure. However, Watkins had strayed just offside in the build-up, with the goal ruled out.

Brentford pushed for an equaliser, with Keane Lewis-Potter striking the post with its best chance, but it could not stop Villa from completing a first Premier League double over the Bees. 

Villa moved up three places to seventh, just two points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, while Brentford is 12th on 38 points.