MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 13:36:44| >> :120:11428:11428:
[monks data]
Attendance: 36,263
Aston Villa logo
Championship | Gameweek 38
Mar 16, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Middlesbrough logo

3-0

El-Ghazi (28'), McGinn (44'), Adomah (88')
FT(HT: 2-0)

We've a smile on our faces again - Villa boss Dean Smith

We've a smile on our faces again - Villa boss Dean Smith
© Reuters
Villa have won four consecutive matches for the first time in 13 months.

Dean Smith claims his players now have a spring in their step after Aston Villa returned to the top six for the first time in six months following a 3-0 home win over Middlesbrough.

Goals from Anwar El Ghazi, John McGinn and Albert Adomah gave Villa a fourth successive win – the first time they have achieved such a feat for 13 months.

Smith said:  "It was a really good performance.  They defended in numbers and it was difficult to break them down as they shut down the middle of the pitch.

"But we never stopped trying to go forward and score, and in the end, it was a very good performance.

"There is momentum as we have put in some fine displays of late. Defensively we looked very solid, which had been our major problem this season, and from the front, our counter-attacking set the tone for the match.

"There is a spring in our step. There are eight games to go and there is now a smile on our faces."

Smith, however, still preached a note of caution, adding: "Obviously, there are teams which we have to catch and overtake. The job doesn't stop because we have made the top six.

"Our fans are tremendous and it is a difficult place for the opposition to come here and play but we have not achieved anything yet.

"We have to play Bristol City here at Villa Park, although winning four on the spin has given everyone a boost.

"The lads are showing a great deal of enthusiasm and the international break will be welcome to give players time to recover from a hectic time."

Resolute defending kept Middlesbrough in the game in the early stages but they had no answer to the clinical finishing of an ultra-confident Villa side inspired by the skill and finesse of the talented Jack Grealish.

Most of Villa's play revolved around Grealish and this eventually resulted in an easy win, and a third successive defeat for Boro, who are just a point ahead of Villa in fifth place.

Manager Tony Pulis was far from happy with his team's latest performance as he said: "It has been a difficult week after Wednesday's game (a 2-1 home defeat to Preston). The team was flat.

"I thought we slow and sluggish in the opening 20 minutes, and we gave away three shocking goals. They had five shots on target and scored three.

"It was a great ratio for them but the goals we conceded were very poor and it was unlike us.

"Having said that, Villa are a top side and they have the momentum at the moment.

"The international break has come at a good time for us. It will be a break to clear their heads and get going again. We have to do better than we did against Villa."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '65377bdc-dc3b-45e1-a99a-a7c7340f747e');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'We\u2019ve a smile on our faces again \u2013 Villa boss Dean Smith'});

ID:353673: cacheID:353673:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5651:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Tony Pulis in charge of Middlesbrough on January 19, 2019
Read Next:
Alex Neil feels for Tony Pulis over controversial Daniel Ayala dismissal
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
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


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!