The Athletic's Gregg Evans has raised his concerns over Aston Villa's defence and the team's defensive record.

The Midlands club let three in last weekend in their 3-2 defeat to Tottenham, with the third coming from a defensive howler from Bjorn Engels. That loss took Villa's tally for goals conceded in the Premier League this season to 50, which did not go unnoticed.

Speaking on the Villans' frailties at the back on the 1874 podcast (20/02/2020), Evans said: "To concede 50 goals already this season is a really worrying stat because you know that, okay, it's an average of two goals a game, isn't it? So it's meaning that they're needing to score three goals to win the game - it's just not sustainable."

The above statistic also means that Villa have the leakiest defence in the division, with not even the bottom three conceding as many goals (per WhoScored). What they do have going for them is their offensive record.

With 34, Dean Smith's side are actually in the top 10 for goals scored. But as Evans alluded to, how Villa are picking up their points is not sustainable. Furthermore, a balance between defensive solidity and offensive efficiency must be struck if the club are to remain in the top tier of English football.

Aston Villa fans, do you agree with Evans' assessment of things? Let us know in the comment section below!