Boro boss Pulis wary of Villa’s attacking threat
Tony Pulis has heaped praise on Aston Villa and manager Dean Smith – but knows where their key strengths lie.
Pulis and Middlesbrough welcome Villa to the Riverside Stadium today in a televised clash, with both teams looking to continue their promotion pushes.
And the Boro boss believes his side will need to be wary of the Midlanders’ frontline.
Villa played out an entertaining 5-5 draw with Nottingham Forest in midweek - Tammy Abraham hitting four - and, while Pulis isn’t expecting a repeat scoreline today, he believes the result only serves to emphasise the attacking power at Villa’s disposal.
That, he feels, is their key strength and one which will mean that Smith’s side will be pushing for promotion come May.
“Those games don’t come round very often and they’re a good side Villa, especially when you see what they’ve got up front,” he said.
“I expect them to be there or thereabouts at the end.”
Pulis was also complimentary of his adversary Smith, who took the reins at Villa Park earlier this season after succeeding at both Walsall and Brentford.
The Middlesbrough chief is now backing the 47-yearold to succeed.
“I was delighted to see Dean (Smith) get the job having down well in the lower leagues with Walsall and Brentford,” he added. “It’s a great reward for him and I’m sure he’ll do well there.”
Meanwhile, though striker Rudy Gestede - who missed the start of the season with injury - will sit out the teatime visit of his former club with a hamstring strain sustained in the first half of the 1-1 draw with Preston North End, Lewis Wing could feature.
The in-form youngster was also taken off at Deepdale but could be handed an immediate return to action - although care will be taken with his comeback, with the club assessing his fitness ahead of the clash with the Villans.
“Wingy, we’re still assessing,” Pulis added.
‘They’re a good side, especially when you see what they’ve got up front.’