I’M FIGHT UP FOR A BATTLE

Dean relishing relegation scrap and reunion with Villa’s nemesis Deeney

against Villa in 2015-16 to help send them down.

And when Villa step into Deeney’s Vicarage Road domain this afternoon the Premier League table will read like a threatening letter for both clubs.

Smith said: “You only have to turn on the TV and the table is thrown at you, so you can’t keep away from it.

“I said to the players before the Norwich game, we’ve put a bit of added pressure on ourselves with the losing run, but these lads thrive under pressure – and, perversely, I quite enjoy it.

“Of course I’d rather be fourth in the league and have that pressure, but being third bottom means you have the incentive to go and prove people wrong.”

Deeney is now in his 10th season, and serving under his 12th different manager, at Watford since Walsall sold him in return for the profits from an Elton John concert at Vicarage Road in 2010.

Smith recalled: “Troy’s a good guy. I still keep in touch with him. He’s had a really great career.

“The biggest compliment I can give him is that his attitude was exemplary when I saw him at Walsall.

“He wanted to work hard and lead the line, and it looks like he’s become that leader at Watford. The only cross words we’ve had are down to the fact that he’s a Birmingham fan!

“But he’s been at Watford a long time, and when you have been somewhere that amount of time you have got to be doing something right.

“Is there still a place for the old-fashioned No.9 in modern football? I don’t see why not – the game hasn’t changed that much and you’ve still got to score more goals than them.”