Conor Hourihane calls on Aston Villa fans to continue their support
Conor Hourihane has urged supporters to continue to back Villa in great numbers as the players aim to focus solely on matters on the pitch.
It is a difficult time for Villa as owner Tony Xia is struggling to get cash into the club and it is likely key players will be sold.
Xia is thought to have accepted he cannot retain full control, to stave off administration, but for Hourihane and co, their main concern is giving the fans something to shout about.
And the 27-year-old midfielder hopes they’ve been pleased with what they’ve seen so far in pre-season, including a hat-trick from him at Walsall on Tuesday night.
“There’s no doubt they’ll be in their numbers, home and away – they will be, no doubt, on Saturday at Burton,” said Hourihane.
“They’re fantastic. We want to get that performance, that winning mentality, for them, so they’re on our side.
“No doubt they’ll be with us and we’ll see where that takes us.
“We have to go promotion as this is the biggest club in the Championship – the numbers we bring, home and away, proves that.
“We’ll be giving everything with the lads we’ve got to achieve that.”
Hourihane insists their play-off final defeat to Fulham, despite the off-pitch uncertainty, is driving the squad to go one better this time around.
He added: “There’s a lot of lads still in there from last year and that disappointment (of not getting promoted) will drive the lads forward again.
“We have to regroup and winning games gives the lads a little bit of confidence, a winning mentality moving forward with the season getting closer.
“Everyone is going to be in with a chance, even the young lads – they’ve got a huge chance to break into the first team squad. They’ll be pushing us, keeping us on our toes.
“Every game is a chance to impress and build on that reputation.”
