Aston Villa are currently sitting outside of the Championship’s top-six.
Former Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock has admitted that Villa Park is a ‘tough place’ to play as manager Dean Smtih has endured a difficult number of weeks in the hot seat.
The West Midlands outfit were beaten by local rivals West Brom at the weekend, with just under 40,000 supporters present in B6 to witness their team suffer another major setback in their quest to finish in the Championship’s top-six.
Since their comfortable win at Middlesbrough in early December, Smith’s side have only picked up two wins and those came against Swansea City and bottom-of-the-table Ipswich Town.
Nonetheless, Warnock shared his thoughts on the expectations at the club and how backing manager Smith will be important for them further down the line.
“It is a tough place to play,” Warnock told BBC 606. “The fans can be tough on the team. They have had incredible days at Aston Villa and they want them back.
“I think it’s important the fans back the manager. Even though he is having a tough moment, at this moment in time, he will need that support in the long run.”
Former left-back Warnock played for Villa during their days of chasing European football under Martin O’Neill so he fully understands the weight of playing in front of such a demanding crowd.
Those days have long gone for the club as they are now facing their fourth year in the second tier of English football with a playoff finish now looking highly unlikely.
Nine points separate Villa and sixth-placed Bristol City, who to add salt to the club’s wounds, have two games in hand on Smith’s side.
If Villa continue to drop points and those around them continue to win then they could potentially find themselves at least 15 points behind the top-six in these next few weeks.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
