We all know how much this means
Says Villa boss Dean Smith
DEAN SMITH will have no problem rousing his men for a derby versus West Brom – with the memories of a brutal play-off battle still fresh.
Empty stadiums have diluted the hot atmosphere usually generated with big localised dust-ups.
But Villa boss Smith believes the hangover from a bitter double-header in the Championship two years ago means both will be going for it this evening.
Villa finally triumphed on penalties at The Hawthorns, leading to their Premier League return following a Wembley victory over Derby.
But the recollections of that evening in the Black Country remain.
Smith said: “What has helped us this week is that quite a few of these players played in the play-off semifinals against West Brom a couple of years ago.
“The atmosphere was absolutely electric in both stadiums. It really was.
“Of course, it also helps that I’m from the area, so is Jack Grealish, we know about these rivalries and what it means.
“I’m obviously older than Jack and I’ve been brought up with the clashes between Villa and Birmingham.
“Plus, Villa v West Brom and so I know what it means. They’re really good derbies.”
Smith is, however, a little worried at Villa’s lack of potency in front of goal ahead of the visit of Sam Allardyce’s strugglers.
Seven strikes in the last eight outings without their talisman Grealish is a cause for concern.
“We have probably struggled offensively since January,” he added.
“It’s an important game anyway for the supporters and they will expect, rightly, that we are at it.”