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Dean Smith wants Aston Villa to increase pressure on relegation rivals

Dean Smith wants Villa to increase pressure on relegation rivals
© Reuters
Villa are four points from safety with three games left.

Dean Smith has called on Aston Villa to ramp up the pressure on their relegation rivals.

Sunday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace breathed fresh life into Villa's survival bid and left them four points from safety ahead of Thursday's trip to Everton.

It was their first win since January and came after Watford and West Ham had won to initially leave Villa seven points from 17th spot.

The Hornets and the Hammers meet on Friday and head coach Smith is eager to see his side take advantage and close the gap.

He said: "I'm feeling the same as before the Crystal Palace game because not a lot has changed. We needed to win because the teams around us had won their games.

"We managed to get that win and it will give everybody a lift, but we're still in the same position. We can go and get some scoreboard pressure on Watford and West Ham who play the following evening.

"We've got to make sure we concentrate on our own game and put in a good performance. We certainly won't get complacent after one win."

Smith is likely to be without Kortney Hause (rib) and Neil Taylor (hamstring), while Danny Drinkwater is out having not trained this week following a knock.

Bjorn Engels will not play again this season as he continues to battle an Achilles problem, while Wesley and Tom Heaton remain sidelined with long-term knee injuries.

Everton were outclassed by Wolves in their 3-0 defeat at Molineux on Sunday, leading boss Carlo Ancelotti to criticise their attitude.

And Smith is expecting a reaction from the Toffees at Goodison Park.

"It will be a tough game. They've got players who can hurt anyone – Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison," he told a press conference.

"They've got a manager who won't be accepting after the Wolves performance and result and they'll come out fighting.

"It looks like they've got some of their injured players back with Mason Holgate and Andre Gomes, who cost more than our record signing. That just shows that they are a very well-established team."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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