Dean Smith's belief unshaken despite Aston Villa slump

Villa visit Stoke on Saturday, aiming for a victory to breathe new life into a season which has stagnated during a run of just two wins in 14 games.

A lifelong Villa fan, Smith admits to having received advice from all quarters on how best to turn things around – even fellow members of his golf club.

But the 47-year-old’s faith in the methods which previously brought him success at Walsall and Brentford remains unshaken and he is convinced the team will soon return to winning ways.

He joked: “I was at the golf club on Monday and a couple of the golfers were telling me what I should do with my wide players. So I told them what they should be doing with their swing!”

Smith continued: “I can’t change what has happened. All I can do is try and improve on it. That is what we are trying to do.

“I have great belief in what I will do, what my staff will do and what the players will do. We will certainly come through this period and we will come out of it better.”

Villa enter the weekend nine points adrift of the play-offs, with Smith admitting it will require something special to make up the ground between now and May.

The poor run has seen him come in for criticism for the first time since replacing Steve Bruce in the Villa Park hotseat last October.

Yet Smith, who prides himself in being a cool customer, insists he is having no problems keeping a level head.

He said: “That is how I am, the nature of me. I have to keep a level head.

“When we were winning, I never got too high and I will never get too low when we are losing games.

“Even though all my mates keep texting me to see if I’m alright, I can assure them I’m fine!

"My wife and daughter know I have not changed at home. The dog is probably getting walked more at the moment, that is probably the one difference. But I am no different and I won’t ever be."