*We started [well] the first couple of minutes, then a cross hits Matty Cash on the bum and drops down for their lad who hits a superb half-volley to score. That knocked the stuffing out of us. “I don’t know where the goal knocked the stuffing out of us but they were better on the ball than us. We did not get the press right, it took us time, and when we did we looked better. “When you’re on a bad run, something like that is hard to take. They were the better team in the first half. “It became a tale of two halves, Southampton controlled the first half and we controlled in the second. When you are getting a run of results you get kicked in the teeth and they scored a hell of a goal. I said to the players at half-time, you can’t feel the world is against you and have to go and leave everything out there which is what they did. “We got them in at half-time and put it right. Bailey played down the middle and Buendia off the right and we looked a totally different team. We played with intensity in the second half. “There was a response. You can’t question the character of the players. “I have been told it should have been a penalty, we will have to ask VAR Stuart Attwell. “We have a few injuries. Some of our subs were academy graduates. I don’t like making excuses. We shouldn’t be losing five games on the spin. “We can get some players back to fitness during the international break and come back stronger. “You’d like a game in the next three or four days but we can’t. “The fans were great tonight. You heard the backing from the fans. It’s a results-based industry. We have to get better. We looked nervous after their goal but second half was the intensity I want to see.” “I am a scrapper, always have been and disappointed to lose five on the spin. We have five players out injured and we will get players fit in the international break. “We work hard during the break with the players that are there and get ready for Brighton. You saw what we are about in the second half, a fair score would have been a draw.” Dean Smith. Sunday, 7 November 2021 “Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that the Club have parted company with Head Coach Dean Smith. "Dean was appointed Villa Head Coach just over three years ago in October 2018 and led the Club back to the Premier League via the play-offs in his first season in charge following a club-record ten-match winning sequence towards the end of that campaign. The following season, he kept Villa in the top flight while also leading the team out at the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley, narrowly losing 2-1 to Manchester City. “When Dean joined us in October 2018 our team was really struggling in The Championship. He immediately transformed the atmosphere and performances and achieved the ultimate success of leading Villa back to the Premier League within the same season - a rare feat. “He then secured our place in the Premier League after a tough campaign and took us to a Cup Final at Wembley. “However, after a good start to last season, this year we have not seen the continuous improvement in results, performances and league position which we have all been looking for. For this reason we have decided to make a change now to allow time for a new head coach to make an impact. “The Board would like to sincerely thank Dean for his many excellent achievements, on and off the pitch, during this time. Everyone knows how much Aston Villa means to Dean and his family. He has represented the Club with distinction and dignity - universally liked and respected by everybody associated with Aston Villa – our staff, players and supporters alike. We wish him the very best. "The process of replacing Dean will now begin and the Club will update supporters in due course."