No more Villains

We need early season form now

DEAN SMITH will order Aston Villa to shed the sloppiness gripping the Premier League – and match the club’s earlyseason form during their run-in.

Villa’s boss is looking to welcome back talisman Jack Grealish at home to Tottenham next Sunday after an exciting finish to an otherwise drab 1-1 draw at Newcastle.

Smith thought he had bagged three points when Ciaran Clark deflected Ollie Watkins’ header into the net with three minutes to go.

But Jamaal Lascelles equalised deep into injury-time, and with one win in their last six Villa’s upward momentum has stalled. Smith (below) said: “I don’t believe the season will peter out. We have just under one-third of the season to go.

“Eleven games, in fact. A lot of points to play for.

“Our first 11 matches were very good and we have to make sure the last 11 are as good.

“We’ve got players coming back. You need freshness within squads and we have certainly got that, which will help.

“Having said that, I felt we were a bit flat at Newcastle.

Bugbear

“I’ve been talking about the whole league being a bit flat – and that’s how I felt it was.

“At the moment, I think there’s a lack of quality within the Premier League.

“I don’t think it’s just Aston Villa.

“I don’t think we have created as much as we should do following our break for Covid, that’s my biggest bugbear.

“I can’t fault the mentality. But I think there’s generally been a sloppiness.”

Villa have prospered enormously since Grealish came through the ranks .

And the club are hopeful that the England international will win his fitness fight this week.

Options

Smith gave a nod towards the potential of another academy graduate, Jacob Ramsey.

The 19-year-old Brummie was again picked ahead of more experienced options in £15million midfielder Morgan Sanson and Chelsea loanee Ross Barkley.

Smith said: “I thought Morgan started really well against Wolves last week but he tired very quickly and I felt Newcastle would come at us, needing to grab the three points.

“Ross has been struggling to find any rhythm in his game.

“He hasn’t recaptured the form he had pre-injury. So Jacob is deserving of the start.

“He’s a midfielder who can get box to box. He can get on the end of things and if he continues to improve Jacob can have a big future ahead of him.”