Speaking to AVTV, Dean Smith has offered a scathing assessment of Aston Villa’s defence following their 4-1 defeat to Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.
Villa were well beaten by the Premier League’s second-placed side, with the in-form, Jamie Vardy netting a brace for Brendan Rodgers men.
One of Villa’s problems this season has been their defence and how they continually concede a high number of chances during games – both at home and away.
That was the case once again at Villa Park, with the home team allowing the Foxes 23 shots at their goal, as reported by BBC Sport.
After the game, Smith, whilst speaking to AVTV, highlighted that issue and made it clear that he’s not impressed with what he is seeing from a defensive standpoint. He also offered an injury update on Tyrone Mings and Matt Targett.
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“We cannot give away 23 shots on our goal,” Smith told AVTV. “Everyone keeps talking to me about going and getting forwards in and wide players in, but defensively, for me is where we need to be better.
“We are giving too many opportunities away in a lot of games this season and as a team defensively we have got to get better.
On Mings injury: “I think Tyrone’s got a hamstring. He’s never had a muscle injury before. He felt he was okay to continue. And unfortunately, we conceded a goal at that period when it just got up for the hamstring. We’ll get a scan on it and see how it is.
On Targett: “I’m not sure about Matt Targett at all.”
Mings had to go off with what looked like a hamstring injury early in the first half, with Targett going off the field during the second half.
Initially, when Mings went down, he got back up and continued to play. But he quickly realised that he wasn’t able to run, as Vardy capitalised on that and opened the scoring. That’s when Smith made the substitution, which in the end, proved to be too late.
Nonetheless, it’s a very costly defeat for Villa because it leaves them hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference, as they face a tough test at Sheffield United at the weekend.