Dean Smith: Aston Villa lacked intensity
Fuming Dean Smith accused Villa’s players of treating the first-half of their 3-2 Premier League defeat at Watford “like a friendly”.
Goals from Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr had the newly-promoted Hornets cruising by half-time and the match was put beyond Villa’s reach when substitute Cucho Hernandez curled home midway through the second period.
A strike from John McGinn and Danny Ings’ penalty deep into stoppage time provided the visitors some consolation but Smith was angry at the first-half showing.
The boss, who took off Matt Targett at the break, revealed he had read the riot act to his players at the break.
He said: “We lacked intensity on the ball and off the ball. We didn’t do enough to hurt them.
“It was almost like we were playing a friendly game and Premier League games aren’t friendlies.
“The lads had to be reminded of that. We showed some signs in the second half but by then we had a mountain to climb and were susceptible to a counter-attack.”
Smith admitted Villa’s sluggish start was a puzzle as he continued: “We were miles off where we need to be and where we expect to be at this club.
