BLASTIN’ VILLA

New boss has got us scoring goals for fun says Taylor

NEIL TAYLOR reckons new boss Dean Smith has taken the shackles off Aston Villa since Steve Bruce was axed.

Villa are buoyant after Sunday’s Second City derby success for a third win in a row.

They thumped rivals Birmingham 4-2 and have nine goals in their last three games following Smith’s switch from Brentford in October.

Ahead of Nottingham Forest’s visit tonight, left-back Taylor, 29, said: “This is a big spell for us but we are coming into games in good form.

“You can see in the last couple of games we are scoring goals.

“Dean Smith has come in and changed the style of football.

“He wants us to play. Even when we got the third goal at the weekend he wanted us to go for more goals.

“That shows you what he is after. He has changed it around completely.

“The boys are really enjoying it. Everyone has seen how good his Brentford teams were and he is trying to implement that here.”

Jack Grealish has scored in his last two home games after being restored to a more attacking central role.

Taylor added: “Jack has been in great form for us – especially since the new gaffer has come in.

“He is scoring goals and making those runs into the box. He is doing fantastically well now and is going to be exciting for us.

“Jack is without doubt one of the best players in the league.”

Forest have seven points from their last three games and also want promotion.

Boss Aitor Karanka said: “It is the reflection of how well everybody has been working.

“We look like a proper team on the pitch but we need to keep working and keep going. We have a very good group of players who are working really well but we need to keep improving.”