MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 03:35:13| >> :120:25046:25046:

Dean Smith warns Aston Villa to prepare for Tottenham "backlash"

Dean Smith warns Aston Villa to prepare for Tottenham
© Reuters
Villa host wounded Spurs on Sunday and sit four points behind them in the Premier League.

Dean Smith has warned Aston Villa to beware a Tottenham backlash.

Villa host Spurs on Sunday after Jose Mourinho's side crashed out of the Europa League.

They lost their last-16 second-leg tie 3-0 at Dinamo Zagreb after extra time to exit the competition 3-2 on aggregate.

It ramped up the pressure on Jose Mourinho, with eighth-placed Spurs now playing catch-up in the race for the Champions League, but boss Smith is wary of a response on Sunday.

He said: "The result for us is probably the wrong thing because I can expect Jose Mourinho to get a backlash from his players and for them to come out fighting at Villa Park.

"We have to make sure that we concentrate on ourselves rather than Tottenham.

"It's a squad that is littered with very good players, none more so than Harry Kane. We have to be at our best to get anything out of this game.

"The thing that helps us more than anything is the fact that their game went to extra time."

Victory for Villa will move them a point behind Spurs in the Premier League and keep their own European hopes alive.

Tottenham's season is close to collapsing, with Mourinho and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris criticising the squad's attitude after defeat on Thursday – the French goalkeeper also hinted at divisions in the dressing room.

But Smith insists Mourinho will emerge from the trouble at Spurs still standing.

"I look at him in awe in terms of what he has achieved already. They won five and lost two and all of a sudden it's a crisis," said the manager, who will make a late call over the fitness of skipper Jack Grealish.

"He has been in these situations before and he will come out of it as well as he has done before.

"We can't control what Tottenham do, we can only control ourselves and that's what I'll be stressing to the players.

"If there is any chink (in the armour) we have to take advantage of it."

ID:440058:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect2725:

Click here for more stories about Dean Smith

Click here for more stories about Aston Villa

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Martin Odegaard celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on March 14, 2021
Read Next:
Premier League gameweek 29 predictions including West Ham United vs. Arsenal
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!