Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has said that the club’s “unbelievable” recent run will help them against Derby County in Monday’s play-off final.
Smith’s side were seemingly out of contention for a Championship top six-spot in February but 10 consecutive wins – a club record – saw them make up ground and propelled them to a fifth-placed finish.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, the Villans boss predicted that his team’s form going into the tie could have an impact in the clash with the Rams.
“What we’ve got that can help us is, for the last 15 or 16 games, we’ve been playing must-win games,” Smith said. “Each game we’ve taken in isolation and we’ve been on an unbelievable run.
“The players are the first to have won 10 games on the bounce at this club and they’ll always be history makers.”
OPINION
It really has been an incredible run to the play-offs for Dean Smith’s Aston Villa. In February, they were in a mid-table position and weren’t even being considered for a top six spot. But look where we are now – the club have the chance to return to the Premier League with a second trip to Wembley in as many seasons. Based on Villa’s run, you have to say that they have the momentum and are favourites going into the tie, having lost last year’s final and had the experience of such a defeat. Having said that, Frank Lampard’s young Derby team will more than fancy their chances. They dumped Leeds United out of the play-offs in incredible fashion and did so without having to go penalties unlike Villa. All in all, it is set to be a fantastic play-off final between two teams who will be fired up for it.