Burnley clash begins crucial stretch for Aston Villa

Wednesday’s 3-1 triumph came against a youthful Seagulls outfit, with Villa boss Dean Smith also fielding a much-changed XI to that typically used in the league.

But Hourihane believes the result was nevertheless important in lifting spirits following last Sunday’s tough 3-2 defeat at Arsenal.

Villa came away from the Emirates with no points despite leading twice and playing more than half of the match against 10 men.

It followed an almost equally disappointing 0-0 draw with West Ham the previous week, when Smith’s men again failed to capitalise on playing with a man advantage, and means there is now a little added pressure on a team which has now lost four of their first six games back in the top flight.

Hourihane said: “We wanted to go to Brighton and be professional, get the winning mentality back after the disappointing result at the weekend. I felt we did that.

“It was disappointing at Arsenal. Everyone was flat and we wanted to get that winning mentality back, get that little bit of buzz.

“It is an important block of games now and there will be a better atmosphere around the place, that is for sure.”

Tomorrow’s match is followed by a trip to Norwich and a home clash with Brighton, either side of next month’s international break. It is a key period for Villa and though the season remains in its infancy, the unenviable prospect of facing Manchester City and Liverpool back-to-back after this three-game segment increases the need to pick up points.

The campaign to date has been one of missed opportunities but while results have been disappointing, Hourihane has found encouragement in performances.

“We’ve been in every game, we haven’t been hammered by anyone or had a bad day in the office from anyone,” he said.

“We’ve been in every game until the last five or 10 minutes in each, we’re not far away at all. We’ve had a couple of poor decisions go against us with the VAR and that. We’re not far away at all. Maybe we need that little bit of luck to go our way, to get that turning point.

“It was important on Wednesday to bounce back with a win. Some of the lads that played on Sunday played and some weren’t there but it just gives that little bit of a buzz back, to know that we’re able to beat anyone.

“They (Brighton) may have had a younger team out, but whoever is in front of you, you have to get the job done and full credit, we did that.”

Hourihane will hope his own performance, which included his third goal of the season, was enough to earn a starting spot against the Clarets. It is certainly hard to disagree with the Corkman’s assertion he could not be doing much more to make his case.

Smith, however, may well opt to recall Marvelous Nakamba after the Zimbabwe international’s promising outing against the Gunners. Neither Nakamba nor Bjorn Engels travelled to Brighton, with Villa splitting their squad to ensure everyone is in the best possible shape for tomorrow’s match.

“It’s a strange one playing Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, in terms of where do you get the training in?” explained Smith.

“Jack Grealish and John McGinn got some minutes at Brighton but Marvelous stayed back, Bjorn Engels stayed back and James Chester played Monday night.

“We had a plan to make sure the lads were prepared for Burnley.”