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Dean Smith wants Aston Villa to increase pressure on relegation rivals

Dean Smith wants Villa to increase pressure on relegation rivals
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Villa are four points from safety with three games left.

Dean Smith has called on Aston Villa to ramp up the pressure on their relegation rivals.

Sunday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace breathed fresh life into Villa's survival bid and left them four points from safety ahead of Thursday's trip to Everton.

It was their first win since January and came after Watford and West Ham had won to initially leave Villa seven points from 17th spot.

The Hornets and the Hammers meet on Friday and head coach Smith is eager to see his side take advantage and close the gap.

He said: "I'm feeling the same as before the Crystal Palace game because not a lot has changed. We needed to win because the teams around us had won their games.

"We managed to get that win and it will give everybody a lift, but we're still in the same position. We can go and get some scoreboard pressure on Watford and West Ham who play the following evening.

"We've got to make sure we concentrate on our own game and put in a good performance. We certainly won't get complacent after one win."

Smith is likely to be without Kortney Hause (rib) and Neil Taylor (hamstring), while Danny Drinkwater is out having not trained this week following a knock.

Bjorn Engels will not play again this season as he continues to battle an Achilles problem, while Wesley and Tom Heaton remain sidelined with long-term knee injuries.

Everton were outclassed by Wolves in their 3-0 defeat at Molineux on Sunday, leading boss Carlo Ancelotti to criticise their attitude.

And Smith is expecting a reaction from the Toffees at Goodison Park.

"It will be a tough game. They've got players who can hurt anyone – Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison," he told a press conference.

"They've got a manager who won't be accepting after the Wolves performance and result and they'll come out fighting.

"It looks like they've got some of their injured players back with Mason Holgate and Andre Gomes, who cost more than our record signing. That just shows that they are a very well-established team."

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1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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