Everton win will turn up heat – Dean
DEAN Smith labelled the win over Crystal Palace as a crucial ‘semifinal, first-leg victory’ for Villa. Trezeguet’s match-winning brace ended a streak of 10 games without a win for Villa, who climbed back to within four points of West Ham and Watford.
Villa go to Everton tonight (Thursday) with Smith claiming a victory at Goodison Park will put them into a relegation shoot-out knowing their direct rivals face off against each other 24 hours later.
“I’ve said many times before that since the Restart our performances haven’t got the points they’ve deserved,’’ said the head coach. “The analogy I used with the players today is today’s our first semi-final.
“We can’t control something elsewhere, just our performances.
“This was our first semi-final and we needed to get through to the second leg. Then we’ll go and look to get a win at Everton, which is another tough game to play. “Get that win and it puts some scoreboard pressure on others.” Smith praised Trezeguet, who notched his first double in
England.
“He was another who came into the club late in the summer and it’s taken a while for him due to a bit of adaptation – the likes of him and Douglas Luiz,’’ he explained.
“But I thought he looked a threat, as he has in the last two games. He had a chance against Manchester United where he hit the post and he got his two goals.
“His attitude is spot-on, he worked his socks off and he deserved his goals.
“Trez has earned his place for his performances and is starting to look a player accustomed to playing in the Premier League.”