Aston Villa boss Dean Smith looking forward to heated play-off clash
Dean Smith believes Villa are heading towards Saturday’s play-off showdown against Albion with momentum despite seeing their 12-match unbeaten run ended by Norwich.
Yesterday’s 2-1 home defeat – which clinched the Championship title for the Canaries – also saw Villa beaten for the first time since they lost to the Baggies on February 16.
Albion now return to Villa Park for the first-leg of a play-off semi-final with Smith, who rested a number of key players against Norwich, claiming his team are relishing the challenge.
He said: “In my head, I don’t really see yesterday’s game as a loss, although the statistics will say it is.
“The idea was to get through injury-free and we’ve rested four players.
“We’re going into two games against West Bromwich Albion that we’re all looking forward to.
“There’s an awful lot of confidence around Villa Park and you can feel it. The players will relish the games.”
Jack Grealish, John McGinn and Tyrone Mings were among those left out of the team as Mario Vrancic struck a late winner for the Canaries.
In addition to losing at home to Albion, Villa were also held to a controversial 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns, when Jay Rodriguez scored a late equaliser with his hand for the hosts.
Smith added: “It’s interesting, the games we’ve played already Darren Moore was in charge, but now Jimmy Shan is in charge. It will be a little bit different.
“I don’t suppose it was ever going to be a 5pm kick-off, being the local game!
“This place will be rocking and it will feel like that gives us a goal-start here.
“The last game we were beaten 2-0 and not at the top of our game. We didn’t have a full squad. But in my head we went to their place and beat them as well.”
