The Preston North End boss is preparing to take on Villa this weekend.
Preston North End manager Simon Grayson.
Preston North End take on Aston Villa in the Championship this weekend and the Preston boss Simon Grayson has spoken to the Lancashire Evening Post on the pressure that Villa are under to succeed.
Aston Villa currently find themselves at the wrong end of the Championship table, as they struggle to turn some of their better performances into wins this season.
Villa have given away more points in the final ten minutes than any other team this season, and did so again in the draw with Barnsley this week.
Simon Grayson in action for Aston Villa
Preston are a team that Villa will expect to beat, but that pressure could play into the hands of Preston – as Grayson, who played for Villa for two seasons, mentions.
“I’d say there is a lot more pressure on Villa to win this rather than us, given where they think they should be and where they’ve come from.
“We know what we need to do in the game, they have got some threats without question.
“Just because Villa are where they are in the division, doesn’t mean they haven’t got players who can hurt you. “We will be aware of that and look to impose our game on them, play from our shape.”
Aston Villa Manager Roberto Di Matteo applauds their fans
Villa have certainly not dealt with the pressure of relegation to the Championship at all well this season.
They are considered one of the favourites to go up to the Premier League – in which they finished bottom last term.
However, on current form, that would be quite an achievement from Villa.
Fans of the club will just be hoping that the players can handle the pressure this weekend, and get the better of Grayson’s Preston side.
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