Former Aston Villa midfielder Ray Houghton has given his “brutally honest” opinion on Aston Villa’s chances in the Championship this season.
He thinks that the best they can do is the play-offs – something that Villa fans would probably take after their start to the season under former manager Steve Bruce.
Talking on the Noel Whelan Show on BBC Radio Leeds (Friday, 6pm) ahead of the crunch clash at Villa Park on Sunday, Houghton was asked how his former side would finish this season.
“The best they will probably do, if I’m being brutally honest, is make the top-six,” Houghton said. “Which is really important, to give yourself a chance of getting back to the promised land.”
Houghton also delivered a warning about Villa’s opponents today, Leeds, enjoying a resurgence under new manager Marcelo Bielsa.
“There will be two edging away, last season it was Wolves and Cardiff, and Leeds are like that this season.”
OPINION
Sunday afternoon’s game against Leeds will give a much clearer indication of where Aston Villa stand in this year’s Championship. Leeds, who were top on Friday before Norwich left it late to beat Blackburn on Saturday, have been the standout team in the league this season under Bielsa. They’ve also got players coming back from injury and should be fielding a strong side against Villa on Sunday. Villa have enjoyed life under their new manager though and in Tammy Abraham they have the form striker in the Championship at the moment. And if Leeds have one weakness, it’s in the centre if defence, with Liam Cooper and Gaetano Berardi still out injured. If Dean Smith can mastermind three points at Villa Park later on today then fans will think they still have an outside chance of hauling themselves back into contention for the automatic promotions spots. If they lose though, they’ll be 14 points off the top two and play-offs will realistically be the best they can hope for.