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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
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool37313382325096
2Manchester CityMan City37253997356278
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd371712864362863
4Chelsea371961267541363
5Leicester CityLeicester371881167392862
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves371514851381359
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs3716101160461458
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd371412113836254
9Burnley37159134248-654
10Arsenal371314105346753
11Everton371310144353-1049
12Southampton37147164859-1149
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle371111153755-1844
14Crystal Palace37119173049-1942
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham37108194861-1338
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton37814153753-1638
17Aston Villa3797214066-2634
18Watford37810193461-2734
19Bournemouth3787223764-2731
RNorwich CityNorwich3756262670-4421

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