Aston Villa 0 vs 1 Rentford Town

Rentford Town hosted Aston Villa at Oakfield Park on 31 August 2025, with kick-off at 4:30pm, in a tightly contested 11-a-side encounter that stretched to 96 minutes including added time. Rentford emerged victorious by a slender 1-0 margin at Villa Park.

Rentford Town lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The match itself was a cagey affair, with both sides probing cautiously in the opening stages. The intensity was palpable, with Rentford showing resilience and tactical discipline under the watchful eye of referee Michael Oliver. Rentford scored the only goal of the game, with Fayoto going on a dazzling run and crossing to Barber, who got the header on target.

Rentford Town’s defensive organisation proved crucial in stifling Aston Villa’s attacking threats throughout the match. The backline marshalled effectively, stopping Villa's clear-cut chances and maintained a compact shape that frustrated their opponents. Meanwhile, the midfield duo worked tirelessly to disrupt Villa’s rhythm and launch counter-attacks.

Standout performances came from Rentford’s Ezra Fayoto and Theo Barber, both of whom were named players of the match.