Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has spoken out in defence of goalkeeper Orjan Nyland but admitted he was at fault for one of the goals against Forest in midweek.
The Norwegian recorded three clean sheets in Smith’s first five matches in charge at Villa Park, but has conceded seven in his last two outings, including five in Villa’s spectacular 5-5 draw with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.
Smith has been quick to defend his stopper, however. Speaking ahead of the Villains’ trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday he said, as quoted in the Express & Star: “I think the criticism he has received is harsh.
“On Wednesday, he didn’t have a chance for the first three goals. They were big chances for any team and I would expect us to score them against any goalkeeper.
“The one Orjan will probably be disappointed with his the fifth one, even though it takes a flick off Axel Tuanzebe’s heel.
“It was a tough one to react for, but you don’t want to see it go in. Up until then, at Derby County for example, he has pulled off great saves and looked more commanding. I think the criticism is unfair.”
Opinion
In a league like the Championship, where things are incredibly tight and every game can feel like another battle in a constant war of attrition, a good goalkeeper can be the difference between the play-offs and mid-table anonymity. Villa were spoiled last season to have the superb Sam Johnstone between the sticks, and his performances, amongst other things, helped them come within touching distance of a return to the Premier League. Nyland is not a bad goalkeeper by any means, and even the best keepers go through rocky spells and make mistakes, but this is not the first time that he has come under fire and that should be a red flag for Dean Smith. The acquisition of a new goalkeeper in January would be a huge boost to Villa’s promotion credentials. Unlike many other positions, there are a multitude of high quality goalkeepers struggling to get regular game time, and whether they went for experience or potential, Villa should be able to secure a safe pair of hands if they choose to look beyond the Norwegian.