Dean Smith: Aston Villa must be more clinical
Head Coach Dean Smith urged Aston Villa to be more clinical with their finishing after a 0-0 draw at relegation-threatened Reading.
Villa began promisingly and almost snatched the lead on the half-hour mark when Tommy Elphick headed against the crossbar.
Reading’s former Wolves keeper Emiliano Martinez was also in good form, making a superb save from Tammy Abraham towards the end.
“We came here trying to get three points and we only came away with one,” Smith said. “So while I was disappointed with the result, I wasn’t with the performance, especially in the second half when we were excellent.
“We pressed Reading, we went and won the ball high and created a number of good opportunities, the big chances.
“But we didn’t take them, we didn’t get the ball across the line. It’s very unlike us not to score goals. At least we looked very solid at the other end.
“I thought we started the game really well, probably for the first 20 minutes. For the last 20 minutes of the half, I thought Reading bossed it.
“Every game you play is an opportunity to get three points. We can’t control other results, only ours. But if we play like we did, certainly in the second half, then against other teams we’ll win comfortably.”
