Lee Hendrie critical of Aston Villa defender Tommy Elphick after Brentford defeat

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Aston Villa suffered another damaging result when they were beaten by Brentford on Wednesday night in the Championship.

Lee Hendrie has been left unimpressed with Aston Villa defender Tommy Elphick for the manner in which he allowed his side to concede a late goal during their 1-0 defeat at Brentford on Wednesday night.

The 31-year-old is one of Villa’s senior men on the field but in stoppage-time, he was drawn towards opposition striker Neal Maupay, who then had space to turn, shoot and score the winning goal.

Throughout the match, the Bees were on top as their attacking threat, high pressing and intensity levels were too good for a Villa team that had no answers.

Nonetheless, former Villa fan favourite Hendrie explained what Elphick should have done rather than get drawn towards his man which ended up proving to be costly for his team.

“I don’t think Elphick has to go to feet [slide in],” Hendrie told Sky Sports Football on 13/02/2019 at 10:00 pm. “He has got to hold him there and see down the clock. He [Maupay] has a lot to do to pass two central-defenders to score that goal.

“But Elphick has got to be more resilient and stand and keep his ground as a centre-half.”

Centre-back Elphick started the season alongside James Chester when he scored during his side’s win against Hull City before then-manager Steve Bruce opted to send him on loan to that club.

But when Dean Smith replaced Bruce in the Villa Park dugout in October, he quickly realised that his side were short of numbers at the heart of the club’s defence, with Chester and Axel Tuanzebe the only recognised CB’s.

As a result, Elphick was recalled back from his loan spell at the KCOM stadium last month and he has since occupied the defensive role alongside the likes of Chester and now Tyrone Mings.

Villa, who have picked up only one win since the turn of the year, will be hoping to turn their fortunes around when Midland rivals West Brom make the short trip to B6 on Saturday afternoon.