Scott Parker told his pre-match press conference that Dean Smith and his coaching staff have done a ‘very good job’ at Aston Villa.
The Fulham boss, whose relegation-threatened side will travel to the Midlands today, also singled out three ‘quality’ Villa players in Jack Grealish, Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins.
Two of the above players were on international duty this past week and if Grealish wasn’t coming back from injury then he would have joined his Villa teammates at St George’s Park.
Ahead of today’s game, Parker was asked about how it’s just Fulham’s luck that Grealish is returning for Villa in time to face them given the situation they are in.
“Yes, maybe (that’s our luck), it’s the Premier League, to be honest with you,” said Parker. “Of course, we understand the quality of player in Grealish and what he brings to Aston Villa.
“These are the challenges you face. This is the reason you wanted to be in this league. And these are the challenges you need to embrace.
“Get yourself up against the best and see if we can compete and get the better of them. Whilst we understand the quality he brings, along with the Watkins and the Mings. All these players. There are challenges we are looking forward to.
“They have done fantastically well. Dean and the coaching staff. They have done a very good job. Started the season extremely well and got some very, very good results. The form has dipped a little bit and they have been up and down.
“But that’s part and parcel of where Villa are in terms of their whole dynamics of a football club. Staying in the PL was huge for them. Given more money to invest and they have invested very, very well. They have a strong team. The journey they are on is a very good one.”
Villa put three past Fulham during the reverse fixture, but it’s fair to say, the London club are a different animal now.
There is more balance and solidity in this Fulham side, and whilst Villa still have attacking threats, they have lost that spark from earlier on in the campaign.
But that’s where Grealish comes into the fold and how Villa react to his return because they have looked a little lost in front of goal recently.
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