Conor Hourihane calls on Aston Villa to keep on winning

Dean Smith’s men head to the City Ground knowing victory would see them leapfrog their Midlands rivals in the Championship table.

Back-to-back wins over Derby and Blues have put Villa firmly back in the play-off picture and a draw against Martin O’Neill’s Forest would still keep them well in contention.

But midfielder Hourihane has promised the players only have one result on their minds.

He said: “Everyone is going to be saying we have won back-to-back games and given ourselves a chance.

“But we are still a few points off. We need to win as many games as possible and have the mentality of trying to win every game. There is always a team who creeps in. Why can’t it be us?”

He continued: “Is the pressure off a little? Maybe so. But we expect a lot from ourselves and we have not done what we wanted to do over the course of the season.

“That is clear to see. We are not in the position we wanted to be but we have given ourselves a chance. That is all we can ask for.”

Villa, who were nine points off the top six after last month’s derby defeat to Albion, are unbeaten in three games and displayed a new-found resilience in Sunday’s explosive Second City derby.

After tonight, they next host another promotion hopeful in the shape of Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Hourihane added: “It won’t be easy these next two games. Both Forest and Middlesbrough are fighting for the same thing.

“We need that togetherness and resilience for the next few games.”

Jack Grealish will wear the captain’s armband for the third game running following his return from injury.

The 23-year-old, who has scored in both games since his comeback, was substituted late on in Sunday’s game due to cramp.

Boss Smith said: “He was knackered. He has had three months away and played two games in a week.

“But he is getting better and better. He came off and said he’d played 70 minutes last week, 82 on Sunday. He wants 90 on Wednesday.”