Villa’s win extended the only 100 percent record in Europe’s leading 5 leagues.
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith insists he is not getting carried away with their fantastic start to the season after a last-gasp 1-0 win at Leicester.
Ross Barkley‘s added- time strike in a game short on quality raised Villa, who left relegation by just one point in July, to second place and within a point of leaders Everton.
It extended the only 100 percent record in Europe’s leading 5 leagues and is the first time since 1930-31 they have won their opening 4 league matches.
“We take it one game at a time as always,” he stated.
“To come here, keep a clean sheet and play as well as we did is very pleasing.”
Dean Smith’s ideas following a significant win! pic.twitter.com/HAbNfCgMhi
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 18, 2020
” We never ever get expensive when winning and never ever got too low last season battlingrelegation We have to remain on an even keel.
” This was a big win today, I understand they had some players missing out on however if you are off your game at any phase in the Premier League you can get a bloody nose very rapidly.
“It was a very tight game, a scrappy game at times. It needed a little bit of quality to win the game and Ross certainly showed that at the end.”
On-loan Chelsea midfielder Barkley scored his second goal in as lots of games, and as lots of as he handled in his last 42 appearances prior to his move to Villa Park.
We have actually got a diamond called ROSSS BARKLEYYYYY ⚽ pic.twitter.com/FdxMhjr1Vz
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) October 18, 2020
Smith exposed he was a physical fitness doubt prior to the match, which is why he ran over to commemorate with team physician Ricky Shamji after scoring.
“He’s had a bit of a knee injury so it was touch and go whether he would start,” added the Villa boss.
“He only trained on Saturday but he has done a lot of work with the doc so he’s nursed him through 90-plus minutes and a winner. I’ve certainly thanked the doc as well.”
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has his own injury concerns as he was missing out on striker Jamie Vardy with a calf injury, which will also guideline him out of the Europa League against Zorya on Thursday, while centre-back Caglar Soyuncu is most likely to be out for 3 months with a groin injury sustained on international task with Turkey.
“Jamie will miss the European game and probably be OK for our next league game,” stated the Foxes manager.
” This one was not so major however we could not manage the threat of a tear. Soyuncu is more major, the muscle is right off the bone so he might be out for 3 months.
“That is an absolute shame. He will be big miss and adds to the other boys (out injured).”
Rodgers was also annoyed his side might not claim a draw.
“I don’t think we deserved that, I thought we were the better team in the first half, got through them really well but we didn’t quite have that pass of quality,” he added.
” Second half it ended up being a bit more basketball and it is not that kind of game we desired.
“You are disappointed to lose that because if you can’t win it you don’t want to lose and to lose it in that way was disappointing.”
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