DI MATTEO CLAIMS BOARD BACK HIM
Pressure building following defeat
PRESTON NE 2 Pearson 5, Hugill 39 ASTON VILLA 0
ASTON VILLA manager Roberto Di Matteo insists he still has the full support of the clubs’ hierarchy as speculation intensifies over his future following defeat at Preston.
Two first-half strikes from Ben Pearson and Jordan Hugill earned Preston their third successive home win.
For Villa, they are now winless in nine league games and slip below Preston to 19th in the Championship table.
“Our start of the season hasn’t been great, I would have expected us to be better than where we are now,” Di Matteo admitted.
“There is total support from the club and there is no other indication, so we will try and be better after international week.
“It’s normal that when the results of the team aren’t what you expect, the results will be questioned. That’s part of our job.”
Preston snatched their early lead in front of the huge travelling Villa support after just four minutes. The ball broke loose to Pearson inside the area and the midfielder calmly slotted past Mark Bunn.
They continued to dominate the first half and deservedly doubled their advantage after 39 minutes. Pearson robbed Ashley Westwood of possession and played in Daniel Johnson – but the ball broke off Bunn and fell to Hugill who tapped in from three yards.
Rudy Gestede was introduced at half-time for Villa, who have now won just one of their last 24 league games stretching back to last season, and should have pulled one back after 48 minutes – heading over unmarked from Jordan Ayew’s corner.
Villa did come within inches of a lifeline goal after 82 minutes when Ross McCormack’s 20-yard free-kick rippled the side netting.
And all hope was extinguished for Villa when McCormack had a penalty saved by Chris Maxwell with virtually the last kick of the game, after a foul by Bailey Wright in the area.
“It’s been a bad day at the office for sure,” Di Matteo added.
“The first half was very disappointing and we gifted two goals away. We had the ball and gave it them on a silver platter to score.
“There is a big disappointment by all, and by the fans. It’s really not good where we are at the moment and it’s certainly a step back compared to the previous games.
“It will come good for us. I have faith in the team, I believe in the team and I think that come the end of the season they will be up there.”
Preston boss Simon Grayson, a former Villa player who was managing against his old club for the first time, believed his side were deserved winners.
“It was a real professional performance from,” he said.
“They left nothing on that pitch, they played to the game plan. They worked, pressed and made it very uncomfortable for Aston Villa.
“If that penalty had gone in at the end it would have been an unfair reflection of how the game went, we were worth a two-goal lead.
Grayson also empathised with Di Matteo, adding: “The Roberto Di Matteo situation has got nothing to do with me. We are all under pressure at times. I lost a game a few weeks ago and there were people calling for my head. Villa are a fantastic club and they deserve to be further up the division.”