TalkSPORT pundit and former footballer Jason Cundy has hailed Dean Smith’s tactics following their 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium which leaves their EFL Cup semi-final tie with Leicester City hanging firmly in the balance.

The Villans had threatened to take a lead to Villa Park after Frederic Guilbert had poked the visitors in front, before Kelechi Iheanacho levelled things up after Villa cheaply gave the ball away from their own free-kick.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Cundy was delighted with the approach from Smith’s side as they frustrated the Premier League high-flyers, with the tie delicately poised heading into the second leg in three weeks’ time.

He said: “Tactically, I thought Smith got it spot-on. He frustrated [Leicester]. He said in his pre-match conference: ‘I want to make sure I go there and keep the tie alive for when we take them back to Villa Park’, and he’s absolutely done that.

“But secretly, I think he’ll be disappointed they’ve not taken a lead.

“The bodies on the edge of the box, the three centre-halves were outstanding, the wing-backs tucked in, the midfield done their job, there was no way through.

“Smith will be happy the tie’s still alive.”

With the teams going into the fixture at opposite ends of the Premier League table, it certainly seems an achievement for Smith’s Villa team to have avoided defeat, let alone threatening to grab a first-leg advantage.

And considering they were comprehensively beaten on their home turf by the Foxes a month ago, it seems as though Smith has done his homework having foiled the home side’s threat, with Leicester unable to turn 70% of the possession and 21 shots into goals.

Of course, there is still plenty of work to do with at least 90 minutes of the tie remaining, but with it taking place on home soil and having given themselves a fighting chance against a team which looks all-but-certain to secure Champions League football next season, it is little wonder why Cundy was so impressed by the valiant Villans.

Villa fans, can the team reproduce this performance in the Premier League and stay up? Let us know what you think below!