Jacob Ramsey provided a highlight in a disappointing afternoon for Aston Villa.
Aston Villa have seen their play-off hopes dealt another blow after they were beaten 2-0 by West Brom at Villa Park on Saturday, but Dean Smith clearly made one decision that the fans approved of.
The Villans now find themselves nine points adrift of the top six in the Championship. They have also played two games more than sixth place Bristol City, while a number of the teams above them also boast a game in hand.
It is a troubling time for Smith. Villa have won one game since the turn of the year and have now lost their last two games – with West Brom scoring twice in four first-half minutes to take the three points at the weekend.
There was one particularly notable moment during the second-half as Smith decided to replace Conor Hourihane with Jacob Ramsey shortly after the hour mark.
The decision was met with plenty of cheers. Hourihane was having a very disappointing afternoon, so it is unlikely that many of the supporters would have been upset to see him replaced.
And with the player replacing him proving to be one of the most exciting youngsters in the club’s academy, who was making his first-team debut for the Villans, it is not difficult to see why it was a popular move from the Villa boss.
Ramsey looked bright while he was on the pitch. But the 17-year-old will be hoping to make more of an impact during the coming months. And with Villa’s play-off hopes suffering another blow, perhaps Smith will be tempted to use the youngster more often before the campaign concludes.
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