DEAN SMITH claims he is not on the brink of the sack — despite Aston Villa’s fifth defeat in six Premier League games.
He slammed his flops after they slumped 3-0 to ten-man Watford.
Dean Smith insists he is definitely staying as Aston Villa boss, despite their slump to third bottomCredit: Rex Features
But he insisted: “My future is not in question. What I do is get players ready for the next game.
“We always knew this would be a tough season. Am I thinking about my future? No, I’m thinking about the next game.”
Smith, 46, who guided Villa to promotion last season, signed a four-year contract extension only last MONTH.
But he is now under huge pressure — with some Villa insiders claiming he could be axed next week.
Birmingham fan Troy Deeney struck a Vicarage Road brace before Ismaila Sarr completed the rout, while Hornets defender Adrian Mariappa was sent off for two yellow cards.
And furious Smith added: “There are no excuses.
‘QUESTIONING COMMITMENT’
“We weren’t good enough and I read them the riot act at half-time.
“Our performance in the first half lost us the game. It was nowhere near good enough and I told the players just that. We needed more commitment.
“Watford looked more committed than we were, their workrate was better than ours, which is the biggest disappointment.
“In the last few games I have questioned our commitment. I didn’t question it on Thursday against Norwich.
But in the second half at Sheffield United we didn’t show enough — and the first half today we definitely didn’t show enough.
“Finally in the second half, we started to get on the front foot but we still didn’t create chances.”
Smith also blasted the use of VAR as Watford were awarded a penalty by the video ref.
Smith moaned: “There’s a screen the referee can walk over to, look at the incident and say, ‘I made a boo- boo’. But we don’t do that in the Premier League.
“We go to Stockley Park where they haven’t got a feel for the game.
“They just make a decision looking at one incident.”
And Smith was also raging that the penalty for Watford’s second goal was awarded as defender Matt Targett was down injured.
But Hornets boss Nigel Pearson said: “It was debatable but our side were entitled to keep playing — because Villa decided not to put the ball out.
“They continued to attack when their player was down.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
