LATE-SHOW LOUIS’S GOAL IS TO START
Ex-England skipper JT helps Villa rediscover defensive backbone
Abraham
JOHN TERRY’S influence is already being felt at new-look Aston Villa.
Terry will need loads of boxes to pack away his medals when he moves to the Midlands, but he’s keen to keep a low profile.
The former England captain spent a while two hours before kick-off quietly signing autographs for fans and gave a wave when he walked on to the pitch.
But it’s what’s happening on the training pitch that’s getting Terry (right) noticed.
This was only the second time in the last 14 league games Villa haven’t conceded a goal.
Terry, partnered with James Chester in central defence, held Villa together last season as a player and they have looked far more vulnerable without him this season.
His job now as the rookie coach in the club’s new management team is to get some backbone into the defence. And he’s made an instant impact. New manager Dean Smith said: “John has had a big input, as has Richard O’Kelly. We’ve worked hard on defending without the ball and defending our penalty box.
“JT’s been at the top level and international level, so he certainly knows his stuff.
“He doesn’t rally the troops, he coaches. He passes on tips that he has learned in the game.
“We’ve worked very well together and hopefully that will continue.”
O’Kelly, a long-time No.2 to Smith, looks after the forwards and Terry looks after the defence. “Myself and Terry REF: ATT: have done some really good work with the defensive system this week,” added ex-Brentford boss Smith.
It also took five good saves from Norway keeper Orjan Nyland to keep out Swansea.
They should have been overrun by rampant Villa following Tammy Abraham’s eighth-minute header but survived, got better, and then found Nyland impossible to beat.
“He made some good saves,” sighed Swansea manager Graham Potter, now with one win in seven matches.
Smith (left) makes no bones about aiming for promotion this season with the team he has supported since he was seven years old.
There were Villa players from the league title and European Cup-winning days of the early 1980s at the game, paying their respects as part of the emotional tribute Villa Park gave former owner and chairman Sir Doug Ellis.
Smith, losing probably 40 years, hugged and spoke to the heroes of his youth as he made his way to the dugout.
Whether he can get Aston Villa back to those heights is his huge challenge. MOTM ORJAN NYLAND (ASTON VILLA) HULL CITY PRESTON LOUIS MOULT is making the most of his brief chances to impress Preston boss Alex Neil.
The 26-year-old striker has scored crucial goals after coming on as a late substitute in their last two away games.
He took just three minutes to grab Preston’s third goal in a 3-3 draw at Aston Villa, but needed a little longer to make a similar impact at Hull.
Moult (above), a 71st-minute replacement for Lukas Nmecha, struck three minutes into stoppage time to earn the point that lifted North End out of the bottom three.
Moult said: “I’ve tried really hard to keep my head up when I have been on the bench.
“I’ve had to come off the bench again here but I always believe in my ability. I work hard and I’ve managed to get my goal.
”I believe that I am a finisher. Put the ball in there and I’ll do my utmost to hit the back of the net – and I’ve managed that recently.”
In contrast, the goals have dried up alarmingly for the Tigers’ Chris Martin, who has scored only twice in his last 48 Championship appearances for Hull and Derby.
Midfielder Jackson Irvine said: ”We would love Chris to get his first goal for the club. He’s worked ever so hard since he’s come in.
“That’s given us a different dimension in the front third.
“He’s a big character and experienced enough not to let it affect him. He knows the goals will come if he keeps getting in the right areas.”
Hull needed an 85th-minute penalty from Jarrod Bowen to break the deadlock and have now gone 497 minutes since scoring a goal in open play.
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