‘SLOPPY TIME HAS TO END’
DEAN SMITH says that Aston Villa need to shake off the sloppiness gripping the whole Premier League – and be sharp again for the run-in.
Villa’s boss hopes to welcome back talisman Jack Grealish for the game against Tottenham next Sunday, after seeing his side concede a last-gasp leveller at Newcastle on Friday night.
With one win in their last six, Villa’s upward momentum has stalled, but Smith said: “I don’t believe the season will peter out. There’s 10 games to go and a lot of points to play for.
“Our first 10 matches were very good and we have to make sure the last 10 are too. We’ve got players coming back, which you need.
“I felt that we were a bit flat at Newcastle. I’ve been talking about the whole league being a bit flat – at the moment, I think there’s a lack of quality. I don’t think it’s just us.
“I can’t fault the mentality. But there’s generally been a sloppiness.”
Villa have prospered enormously since Grealish came through the ranks at Villa Park – and Smith is hopeful the England star will win his fitness fight for the Spurs game.
Smith gave a nod towards another academy graduate, midfielder Jacob Ramsey, 19, who got a fourth top-flight start of the season at Newcastle.
The Villa boss said: “Jacob can get box-to-box. He can get on the end of things. If he continues to improve, he can have a big future.”
NEWCASTLE striker Dwight Gayle is the talk of the town amid top clubs in Turkey.
Galatasaray, who signed USA right-back DeAndre Yedlin from Toon in January, are among rivals alerted to Gayle’s availability.
The former Crystal Palace frontman (below) – a £10million Rafa Benitez recruit in the summer of 2016 – is out of contract at the end of the season.
Gayle, who has also attracted clubs in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, made only his second start this season in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.
BRENTFORD boss Thomas Frank believes Ivan Toney can take the Harry Kane route to stardom.
Toney, a bargain £5million replacement for the Bees’ other goal machine, Ollie Watkins, struck his 26th Championship goal of the season against Blackburn on Friday night to keep his club’s push for the Premier League on track.
A penalty from the ex-Peterborough player, 24, increased his total.
“It’s now 26 goals in the league, nine assists, crazy numbers,” said Frank.
“It shows his all-round game. It’s normally just Harry Kane who produces those numbers in assists and goals.”
Kane went on loan to a number of clubs during his early days at Spurs, while Toney was forced to drop down the leagues after failing to make an impact with Newcastle United.
Frank said: “I don’t know the exact story of Harry Kane, but I think he went to League One on loan. He did well, so there are ups and downs and no direct route to success.”