'Villa Building Good Foundations For Success'

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'Villa Building Good Foundations For Success'

Defensive improvement and smart recruitment have contributed to Aston Villa's impressive season to date, according to Ashley Preece of the Birmingham Mail.

2021-02-21T08:47:00.000Z

by Sam Jones

Published

21 Feb, 2021

'Villa Building Good Foundations For Success'

Defensive improvement and smart recruitment have contributed to Aston Villa's impressive season to date, according to Ashley Preece of the Birmingham Mail.

Sam Jones

2021-02-21T08:47:00.000Z

'Villa Building Good Foundations For Success'

Defensive improvement and smart recruitment have contributed to Aston Villa's impressive season to date, according to Ashley Preece of the Birmingham Mail.

Sam Jones

2021-02-21T08:47:00.000Z

'Villa Building Good Foundations For Success'

Defensive improvement and smart recruitment have contributed to Aston Villa's impressive season to date, according to Ashley Preece of the Birmingham Mail.

Sam Jones

2021-02-21T08:47:00.000Z

'Villa Building Good Foundations For Success'

Defensive improvement and smart recruitment have contributed to Aston Villa's impressive season to date, according to Ashley Preece of the Birmingham Mail.

Sam Jones

2021-02-21T08:47:00.000Z

- Aston Villa host Leicester City in the Premier League at Villa Park on Sunday (2:05pm kick-off)- Birmingham Mail journalist Ashley Preece spoke to LCFC TV ahead of the game to give his lowdown on Dean Smith's side- After finishing 17th in 2019/20, Villa brought in the likes of Emiliano Martínez, Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins- Villa have been much more defensively solid this season, contributing to their impressive form, he believes

Leicester City arrive at Villa Park on Sunday (2:05pm kick-off) for their latest Premier League clash against another side enjoying an excellent top flight campaign.

Villa emerged victorious in the reverse fixture on Filbert Way, finding a 90th-minute equaliser from Ross Barkley to come away with a 1-0 victory back in October 2020.

The campaign as a whole has been a very positive one for Villa, who narrowly escaped relegation last season, but have been flying high in the top half of the Premier League during 2020/21.

Preece told LCFC TV that Dean Smith deserves credit for the way he has transformed the team and turned them into a force to be reckoned with, beating the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool on their way to sitting eighth in the current standings.

"Optimism is in the air, it has been for a long while at Villa Park now, it's a really exciting side that Dean Smith has built," he revealed. "Going to King Power Stadium earlier this season and winning there is no mean feat in itself, just ask Liverpool.

"It's all good signs, but they've been rocked by this Matty Cash injury, which is quite a devastating blow to be honest. He's been an ever-present this season, I think he's only missed one game through suspension, so that's a big blow for Sunday.

"Given Harvey Barnes' form and [Ricardo] Pereira behind him, it's a bit of a danger for Villa going into this one, that's the biggest concern amongst supporters at the moment.

"Jack Grealish has been nullified as well in recent weeks, teams have been doubling up on him, so his goal contribution hasn't been as good as it has been all season.

"It's the same with Ollie Watkins, he's been a bit isolated, so Villa are in a bit of a sticky situation. Attacking wise, if you stop Grealish, you stop that supply line to Watkins as well, so by nullifying Grealish, you've got a great chance of getting a result at Villa Park."

Through a combination of new roles for existing players, such as John McGinn, and the recruitment of Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, Villa have become much more solid at the back, characterised by their impressive clean sheet record.

Preece continued: "John McGinn has found a different position this season, he's more of a defensive midfielder, hence why Villa are shutting out the opposition teams.

"It's three clean sheets recently, Martínez has been outstanding in goal, which bodes well and you can nick results that way. Last week at Brighton, it was down to him, he won that point on his own.

"And with 12 clean sheets out of 22 - only Manchester City have got a better record than that - you're setting good foundations for success, I think, hence Villa's position in the league table, knocking on the door of the European places.

"Ezri Konsa, he's been a standout this season, likewise Tyrone Mings. It's been an all-English back four as well, with Matt Targett at left-back. He's really kicked on after his move last summer.

"Matty Cash has stepped up from the Championship from Nottingham Forest and he's looked every bit a Premier League player. It's been a team effort and Smith has referenced Watkins' work rate up top, so defending from the front has been pretty big.

"He was highlighting how he's been really pleased with them off the ball, which is something Leicester do really well, winning the ball back and springing counter attacks.

"Villa are in a good place and it's going to be a tough game on Sunday. They need to be defensively on it and, at the other end of the pitch, teams in the Premier League are defending well and Leicester will be looking to do the same."

While City travelled to face Slavia Prague in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, Villa have enjoyed an eight-day break from action since their goalless draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at AMEX Stadium last weekend.

Preece believes this may play a part in giving them an edge against the in-form Foxes, who have lost just one of their last 15 games in all competitions.

"Villa fans will be a bit wary given Leicester's form," the journalist added. "With them in Europa League action, that might take a little bit out of them, I know Rodgers went strong with his XI for that one.

"If Leicester turn up like they did against Liverpool last week, Villa could be in trouble, but it bodes well for a really exciting game with [James] Maddison up against his mate Grealish. It will be all eyes on those two, with the England situation in the summer.

"There's key battles everywhere, none more so than Barnes coming up against Ahmed Elmohamady for his first league start in 12 games, I think that's a really intriguing one.

"It's two evenly-matched sides, [Jamie] Vardy vs. Watkins, another little battle of who comes out on top there, and I'm really looking forward to it."

All times GMT.

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