Plenty of Aston Villa fans were quick to react to Dean Smith’s comments following the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United on Friday.
Villa looked to have taken all three points at St James’ Park following Ciaran Clark’s own goal late on. However, the hosts stopped Villa leapfrogging Liverpool in the table after Jamaal Lascelles levelled things up with seconds remaining.
Missing Jack Grealish
Without the injured Jack Grealish in recent weeks, Villa have only managed to score three goals in 300 minutes of Premier League action.
They’ve picked up just five points from a possible 15 in that time, with Leicester City the only side above Villa in their recent run of fixtures.
Villa fans react to Smith’s comments
Birmingham Live reporter Ashley Preece posted two tweets from Smith’s post-match comments, with the boss addressing his initial feelings and Villa’s lack of cutting edge.
"You're disappointed, naturally. We didn't deserve to win the game. It was an ugly game. But, when we score a goal near the 90th minute, you've got to see it out. We could have got the goal to make it 2-0 but we didn't make the most of those opportunities.
"It's always a concern when you're not creating chances. There weren't many big chances in the game. We've got good enough players but some of them are short on confidence and rhythm at the minute, as are a lot of players in the league."
This is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply to Preece’s posts, with one labelling the boyhood Villa fan’s comments as ‘boring’.
"He's wrong and needs telling he is wrong. Neither Anwar nor Trez makes the first 11 of any team in the top half of this league."
"Smith's getting boring. It’s like listening to David O’Dreary all over again."
"Same post match speech as the previous 6 ain’t it"
"If I’m being honest. I’d like see a few of the youngsters. Our season is over, good opportunity to give a couple a few games imo. I know there’s more prize money higher you finish but the experience is invaluable"
"We have been 'ugly' for weeks."
"Yeah but he talks like it’s got nothing to do with him, Villa are not going down now, so just go out there & attack teams & see what happens!"
"Lets be honest, without Grealish, we'd be looking at another relegation dogfight again"