EZRI DOES IT AS MINGS GETS MEAN
Smith plugs leaky defence to spark Villa survival bid
ASTON VILLA could be relegated at West Ham on Sunday if they fail to end the season without an away clean sheet.
But just in time, manager Dean Smith seems to have found the answer – a centreback partnership that is working wonders.
Smith’s men hauled themselves out of the Premier League drop zone this week for the first time since February with their gutsy 1-0 win over Arsenal. Skipper and talisman Jack Grealish, a £70million target for Manchester United, received much of the acclaim along with scorer Trezeguet.
But behind them, the form of England defender Tyrone Mings and England Under-21 international Ezri Konsa has been key inVilla’s revival.
The duo were put together at the heart of defence three games ago after injury to Kortney Hause saw Konsa, 22, moved inside from right-back.
The improvements have been dramatic with seven points and just one goal conceded since.They beat Crystal Palace 2-0 and drew 1-1 at Everton before the win over Arsenal.
It is a far cry from Villa’s tailspin before lockdown, culminating in a
4-0 thrashing at Leicester when
Konsa was an unused substitute. But Smith and assistant John Terry, Chelsea’s legendary defender, used the time wisely in the pandemic with tactical online Zoom coaching sessions.
How it has paid off – and another shut-out for at least a point on Sunday may yet to be enough to preserve their status. Villa are fourth from bottom, safe for now by a better goal difference of just one from both Watford, who go to Arsenal on the same points, and Bournemouth, who are three points behind.
They have cut out the stupid mistakes, not making a single error leading to a goal. Little wonder Konsa was left screaming in delight at the final whistle against Arsenal – to have denied striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a single shot on target was some feat. Alongside Konsa, Mings, 27, who has two England caps, was a towering presence as he made nine clearances, 36 passes and gained possession eight times.
Smith, who signed Konsa at Brentford before bringing him to Villa last summer for £12million, said: “Ezri is one of our most improved players. When we came back, Tyrone and Kortney made a good partnership, with Ezri at right-back. The injury to Kortney has seen Ezri move to his favoured position.
“Ezri has been excellent. His performances have gone up another level.
“The pandemic was unfortunate for everybody but it gave us an opportunity we wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Smith also said the squad’s improved fitness means players now keep their concentration better and for longer in games.
They will need it again on Sunday but Villa now have a solid basis for the likes of Grealish to attack from.