Tyrone Mings makes 'mentality' point as Aston Villa look to rebound from Monaco defeat

The 1-0 reverse has set up a mammoth Battle of Britain clash with Celtic next week in the final round of group stage matches and prompted boss Unai Emery to question the mindset of some of his players.

Villa will need to beat the Scottish giants and hope for results elsewhere to go their way in order to secure a top-eight finish and progression straight through to the last-16, a prize which would have been firmly in their grasp had they won on Tuesday.

But Mings, one of the players name-checked by Emery as having followed his gameplan, says thoughts of the Celtic clash can wait with Villa first hosting West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday, looking to extend a four-match unbeaten run in that competition.

The defender said: “Celtic is a game which will hopefully be a classic for the right reasons and we’ll give everything to come out on the right side of it. 

“We know it’ll be a tough game but everything now is gearing up for West Ham, a huge game for different reasons.

“It’s one we’re really looking forward to. We can’t let anything affect our mood, I think if we win, draw or lose we have to be exactly the same with the level of focus going into the next game. 

“Our league form cannot take a dip because we’re disappointed tonight, that’s a completely different competition and different focus. 

“What we need to do is have that ruthless winning mentality that means every game we go into we have the exact same aim to win. We never think any differently regardless of the opposition.”

Mings dismissed the suggestion a run of three away matches in six days might have been behind Villa’s sluggish performance in Monaco.

The 31-year-old also took his share of the blame, having lost possession in the build up to the corner from which Wilfried Singo scored the only goal of the match in the eighth minute.

“I gave the ball away and didn’t defend the corner,” said Mings. “That is the simplicity of football in a tight game. We came out on the wrong side of that moment and couldn’t get back into the game.

“I don’t have any excuses whatsoever, I think we had enough energy and quality to win the game but I don’t think we controlled the transition very well either. 

“We had enough out there to win the game or at least come away with something. That’s why we’re really disappointed.”

Missing out on the top-eight would mean Villa playing in next month’s play-off round, with the first leg taking place just days after an FA Cup fourth round tie with Tottenham.

Asked about the importance of finishing in the top-eight, Mings replied: “Now that we’re in and around it, we have to have an ambition to finishing there. It’s a chance to play fewer games. 

“But we want to give a good account of ourselves every time we step out on the pitch, and accept the result that comes our way after. 

“We can play well and lose or we can play poorly and win but the most important thing for us is to give everything and show our personality on the pitch. Of course we’d love to finish in the top eight.”