Leeds v Aston Villa: Dean Smith's side facing midfield conundrum

Only once have Dean Smith’s team gone three matches without claiming a victory in the Premier League – when they drew at Chelsea and lost to Manchester United and Manchester City either side of the coronavirus outbreak which brought a temporary halt to their campaign last month. As frustrating as some recent performances and results have been, such a statistic does serve as a reminder of Villa’s impressive consistency this term, while also demonstrating their ability to react positively to setbacks.

That is precisely what they will be aiming to do at Elland Road, having taken just one point from matches against Brighton and Leicester with displays which were somewhat underwhelming.

Just as against the Foxes, they are expected to be without Jack Grealish as the skipper continues to rest a shin injury.

One match was never going to be enough for a final judgement on precisely how good Villa are without their talisman and Smith will have expected far more from his players, regardless of the circumstances, than seen in the first-half of last Sunday’s match.

“I certainly didn’t put the defeat down to Jack not being in the team,” Smith said. “Yes he would enhance any team because he is that good a player.

“But we had a good enough team out (against Leicester) to win the game. We just didn’t play well enough.”

Instead, Grealish’s absence exposed some frailties which had already been present for several weeks, most particularly when it comes to the make-up of a midfield which, too often of late, has neither provided sufficient cover for the defence or adequate support for lone striker Ollie Watkins.

Question marks over Villa’s midfield first emerged following a 3-0 defeat in the first meeting with Leeds this season. Smith’s team went into October’s game boasting the only perfect record in the top five divisions of English football having won their opening four Premier League matches. By the end of the night they were well beaten courtesy of Patrick Bamford’s second-half hat-trick.

Doubts over whether Villa quite have the mix right in the middle of the park are now being voiced louder than ever. Much of the focus has fallen on Ross Barkley, who has struggled for form since returning from a hamstring injury, yet neither John McGinn or Douglas Luiz have been on top of their game in recent weeks.

Smith must decide whether the issue is to do with tactics, personnel or, most likely, a combination of both.

Morgan Sanson is pushing to make his first start after making three appearances off the bench following a £14million January move from Marseille. Another option available to Smith is Jacob Ramsey, the 19-year-old academy product who has made four substitute appearances in the last eight matches.

Ramsey’s only Premier League start remains December’s 1-0 derby win at Wolves, yet his energy and running could be handy against a Leeds team who rarely take their foot off the throttle from the first whistle to the last.

The hosts head into the match knowing a victory would be enough to leapfrog Villa in the table and while the result will not be season-defining for Smith’s team, who still possess matches in hand, there is a sense they need to reassert themselves.

Fortunes can change quickly, a positive result tomorrow would lead Villa nicely into a week which also sees them travel to lowly Sheffield United before hosting Wolves a week tomorrow.

Conversely, another disappointing performance would heighten fears this most enjoyable and surprising of seasons might be in danger of fizzling out.

With Matty Cash expected to miss at least another fortnight with a hamstring injury, Ahmed Elmohamady will again start at right-back. Kortney Hause (foot) and Wesley (knee) remain on the sidelines, though both are nearing returns, the latter from an injury which has kept him out for nearly 14 months.