Aston Villa will be looking to improve under Dean Smith.
Former Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has told Sky Sports’ The Debate that he thinks the club will end up making a run for promotion under Dean Smith this season.
Villa narrowly missed out on promotion last season as they lost 1-0 to Fulham in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, and the summer proved to be difficult for Villa.
Financial problems mounted, but they somehow kept hold of Jack Grealish before new owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens arrived to save the club with new funding.
Even with big loan deals for Yannick Bolasie and Tammy Abraham, Villa weren’t able to impress under Steve Bruce, and a run of just one win in nine games saw him lose his job earlier this month.
Villa have now brought in Dean Smith as his replacement having thrived with Brentford, and whilst he kicked off with a 1-0 home win over Swansea City, defeats to Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers have shown just how much work he has to do.
Villa currently sit six points clear of the Championship relegation zone and seven points adrift of the play-off places, meaning their season is on a knife edge right now and could go either way.
Now though, former Aston Villa boss Sherwood has told Sky Sports’ The Debate that there is so much time left this season that Villa will ultimately come good, and predicted they have a squad of players available to make a promotion push possible, much like Stoke City.
“It’s a marathon,” said Sherwood. “If this was a 400m race, they’re not even at the first bend yet. That’s why I still think there’s a chance for Stoke to come, with the squad of players and the budget they have, and there’s a squad of players at Aston Villa there, they will come,” he added.
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