We’re NOT a one-man team - Dean

DEAN Smith has denied Villa are a one-man team – and vowed to ensure there will be no repeat of the horror show at Wigan.

Villa were thrashed 3-0 by the Latics and couldn’t even muster a single shot on target in a terrible performance.

They again lacked a creative spark with Jack Grealish still recovering from a shin injury.

Villa have won only one match since Grealish hobbled off in the draw with Albion at the start of December but Smith insists his side are not overly-reliant on the 23-yearold.

“I’m not even looking at the (top six),” said the boss. “I am looking at the next game.

“We can’t go from where we were, travelling to Derby, Middlesbrough and West Brom and putting the performances we were with the same personnel, minus Axel

(Tuanzebe) and Jack.

“We are training no different. We are certainly not a one or twoman team.

“The players know that.

“There is certainly enough ability within that dressing room. They have to turn it around now. We all do.”

Smith believes his players might need to learn the hard way after two successive 3-0 defeats.

Smith appeared to have Villa on the right track after 11 games with only one defeat – and even that was against Championship frontrunners Leeds.

But back-to-back losses, against Swansea in the FA Cup and Wigan in the league last Saturday, has punctured the feelgood factor.

Smith, who was appointed as Steve Bruce’s successor in October, hopes to use this trying period to his advantage.

“What you do is learn an awful lot about players in your team in these situations – and yourself,” he said, reflecting on the defeat at the DW Stadium.

“I’m bitterly disappointed. I didn’t see that second-half performance coming, especially after the first.

“There was nothing between the two sides in the first half, apart from the goal.

“Second half, we just got frustrated and started playing a little bit individually rather than as a team.

“We got frustrated and gave away stupid goals from there.”