Dean Smith is facing a potential must-win match away to Southampton to avoid Aston Villa considering sacking their manager, as per The Athletic, sparking some fans to react online.
The Villans travel to the south coast this Friday seeking to snap a four-game winless run in the Premier League. The Birmingham outfit have slipped down to 15th in the table after defeats to Tottenham, Wolves, Arsenal and West Ham.
Aston Villa have not taken a point since a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 25. They are the only top-flight side without a single point since, while also conceding a league-high 12 goals. Only the Red Devils have also allowed double figures.
Aston Villa’s run of form has begun to raise question marks over Smith’s long-term future with a potential sacking looming. Owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens are not yet ready to fire the £31k-a-week coach, but are growing anxious.
Losing at Southampton on Friday may spark Sawiris and Edens to review Smith’s position during the following international break. Defeat at St Mary’s will mark Aston Villa’s worst run of consecutive league defeats since appointing Smith in October 2018.
Sawiris and Edens are allowing Smith time to change Aston Villa’s fortunes after he secured promotion from the Championship. The 50-year-old is also the only coach they have hired since taking over the Villa Park club in 2018, and has met his set objectives in each season.
Aston Villa fans react to potential review into Smith position
Reports defeat to Southampton may spark a review into Smith’s position has sparked some Aston Villa fans to react online. That’s because a few feel Sawiris and Edens are delaying the inevitable by keeping the West Brom-born coach around.
Others also question why losing at St Mary’s should be the catalyst into such a review given the club’s form. The Saints moved above Aston Villa by a single point after beating Watford last weekend.
Burnley’s win over Brentford also closed the gap between the 18th-placed Clarets and Villa in 15th to three-points. Sean Dyche’s outfit would additionally move above the Villans on goal difference if they beat Chelsea and Smith cannot take any points on the south coast.
So, here are some of the messages Aston Villa fans shared on a potential review into Smith’s position as manager…
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