Dean Smith demanding bravery from Aston Villa
Dean Smith has called on Villa to be brave as they enter the biggest 48 hours of their season so far.
Villa host fellow strugglers Norwich City on Boxing Day before travelling to bottom club Watford on Saturday (both 3pm).
Smith’s men are desperate for victories after a run of four straight Premier League defeats which has seen them fall into the relegation zone.
The boss said: “We need to be braver and have more belief in what we are doing.
“Some of our build-up against Southampton on Saturday was excellent and we played through them.
“But we never got that first goal and when they scored the first goal we stopped doing what we were good at. It is about having belief in the system and not letting a goal against you affect what you do.”
Smith is confident his players, who were booed off after last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to the Saints, have the stomach for the battle ahead.
Neither has the typically cool-headed boss felt the need to read his team the riot act, explaining: “If I have to do that, then I’ve got a problem. The players are not stupid, they can see the league table, they know what our performances are like and they know we have to turn things around very quickly.
“I’m sure they will. They’re a sensible bunch and there is enough character in them. They’ve shown enough quality already in this league so far.
“But we have to go back to being more hard to beat.
“Not so long ago we were three minutes away from beating Liverpool, who are now the World Club champions. There’s certainly ability in that dressing room, but we just have to build up that confidence that’s been drained a little bit with the recent performances.”
Villa have lost influential duo John McGinn and Tyrone Mings to injury in recent weeks and Smith says the onus must be on others to step up.
“I have a squad of 22 players who I can put in at any given time,” he said. “Kortney Hause is a very good player. He has come in with Tyrone being out.
“Marvelous Nakamba, who cost us £10million, comes onto the pitch when John McGinn comes off. We have got good players in the squad. We have to make sure they show it.”
