Dean Smith insists ‘there is NO panic’ at Aston Villa ahead of Southampton trip despite four consecutive defeats increasing the pressure on the under-fire boss
- Aston Villa have lost their last four Premier League matches under Dean Smith
- Villa are now 15th in the top-flight table, just three points above the drop zone
- Smith is under pressure and Friday’s clash with Southampton is a defining game
- Ezri Konsa, Danny Ings and Douglas Luiz are all missing for Villa this weekend
Dean Smith insists there is no reason for Aston Villa to panic as they look to end a run of four straight defeats at Southampton on Friday.
Villa’s alarming dip in form has increased the pressure on Smith, who is facing one of the defining games of his three-year reign as manager. The international break follows this round of fixtures and Smith’s position will start to look precarious if he cannot arrest the slide.
He said: ‘There is no panic, we’re in control and determined to put things right. There has been a reaction from all the players because they are disappointed with the results.
Dean Smith has called for calm at Aston Villa despite four consecutive Premier League defeats
Villa have slipped down towards the bottom of the table to increase the pressure on Smith
‘We are not far from turning it around and we are in a determined mood, that’s for sure. There is a collective responsibility and the players have been working hard.
‘We’re in a high-performing elite sport. And within those games there have been marginal moments which transpired. We’ve made some small mistakes in games that have cost us, we were missing five players for West Ham game (when Villa lost 4-1 at home last Sunday.’
Smith will be without former Southampton forward Danny Ings and midfielder Douglas Luiz due to injury, although Tyrone Mings is expected to earn a recall.
Skipper Tyrone Mings is set to earn a recall to the starting line-up due to Ezri Konsa’s absence
The club captain was surprisingly dropped against West Ham but is likely to be restored as Ezri Konsa serves a one-match suspension.
Smith added: ‘Tyrone was disappointed of course, he took it as the person he is and he will be looking to get his form on track.
‘Southampton have consistency in the way they play and the way they approach games. You look at them this season and they are a team that’s well organised and difficult to beat.’
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