Dean Smith's Villa lose a fifth successive top flight League game for the first time since 2015-16 under Rémi Garde as the recent terrible run under Smith's leadership continues. 

Indeed the first 45' suggested a team no longer responding to the manager or the shirt. The second 45' suggested the total opposite however, but once again it was too little too late and Villa's third season back in the Premier League now looks like a battle against relegation as unexpected as it is worrying. 

Indeed results later in the weekend could see Villa drop into the bottom two as the freefall under Smith continues. 

Time in the Premier League is a sparse commodity however and five consecutive defeats underlines the fall under Smith.

Keinan Davis makes his 86th and final appearance for the club (28 Starts) to leave with a record of W33 D21 L32, 6 Goals, 6 Assists and 3 Bookings.

Matty Cash makes his 40th appearance for the club since his debut in September 2020 to record W16 D5 L19, 1 Goal, 3 Assists, 10 Bookings and 1 Red Card so far in his Villa career.

Subsequent to a fifth successive defeat it was announced that Dean Smith had been removed from his position as manager.

Dean Smith had been relieved of his duties after 139 games with a record of 1.41 points per game at a win rate of 40.29% and a loss rate of 39.57%.