Villa on the rise as Boro slump
ASTON VILLA boss Dean Smith is challenging his team to stay in the play-offs after getting into the top six for the first time in six months.
Villa smashed through Middlesbrough’s attempt to lock the door on them and put themselves back into the promotion picture.
Four successive wins in an unbeaten five-game run has Villa Park roaring again.
“Probably the only gripe is we could have scored more,” said Smith.
“The last five games have been very good performances.
“Winning four games on the spin gives us a bit of momentum and a spring in our step.
“We know there are eight games to go, but it sends our players away on international duty with a smile on their faces.
“There are still teams like Middlesbrough above us who we need to try to catch and take over. The work doesn’t stop because you’ve just got in there.”
Boro tried to lock and bolt the door on Villa, but failed and are vulnerable now, only one point ahead of revived Villa and Preston.
Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi cut Middlesbrough’s defensive plan into pieces with his 28th-minute goal.
Then John McGinn got his third in two games to put more pressure on Boro boss Tony Pulis, sub Albert Adomah wrapping it up.
It’s three successive defeats and one point from the last 12 with Pulis’ promotion bid on the verge of dying.
“Three defeats on the bounce is the first time it’s happened to me at this club,” said Pulis. “The international break is a good time for the players to have a breather, clear their heads and then let’s get going again.”
Villa were close to that graveyard themselves back in December.
After an impressive 3-0 win at Middlesbrough they slumped to two wins in 14 games and Villa was a restless, disillusioned place.
Smith was on the verge of writing off promotion and the last time Villa were in the top six was September.
Boro haven’t been out of the top six all season but Villa have inflicted a lot of damage on them.
Out of the 31 league goals mean-minded Middlesbrough have conceded, six have been banged in by Villa.
El Ghazi, tricky, quick and direct all game, broke the deadlock Boro tried to impose.
McGinn angled his pass and El Ghazi was on it, taking on keeper Darren Randolph and netting with a left-foot drive.
Immediately Boro went to Plan B, reducing a five man defence to four and sending on Stewart Downing.
But Villa took advantage of the extra space and a minute before half time were two up.
Neil Taylor’s ball brought a pass from Jack Grealish before he was flattened by John Obi Mikel. Tammy Abraham dummied and McGinn, thundering in, blasted in his shot.
When Randolph spilled a Keinan Davis shot two minutes from time Adomah tapped in Villa’s simple third.