'Can't argue' - Dean Smith makes NSWE admission and delivers Aston Villa Champions League verdict
Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Dean Smith makes Newcastle United point after Unai Emery's side thrash West Ham at Villa Park
Dean Smith suggests Aston Villa can qualify for Champions League football this season by replicating the success Newcastle United enjoyed in the Premier League last season.
The former Villa head coach was in attendance at B6 to watch Unai Emery's side thrash European chasing rivals West Ham 4-1. Douglas Luiz netted either side of half-time before Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey scored after Jarrod Bowen’s strike deflected past Emi Martinez on the hour mark.
In 2023, only Man City and Arsenal have amassed as many Premier League points as Villa after they claimed their 11th consecutive league win at home by beating the Hammers After full-time, Smith praised Villa owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, for their investment into the club, which has enabled supporters to dream again.
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"They’ve got a couple of injuries with Buendia and Mings, but they’ve got a squad they believe can compete in Europe and here at home," Smith said on Sky Sports. "You can feel that something is definitely building.
"The owners have invested into the football club and why can’t you do what Newcastle done last season? I think that will be the dream for this season."
Asked about Villa's ownership group V Sports, Smith said: "They’ve invested a lot into the football club, the infrastructure as well as playing staff. They want to be successful at home and abroad.
"You can feel here at the moment, they’ve just won 11 games on the spin at home. There’s something happening definitely. Unai has come in and done a brilliant job. You just can’t argue with them stats. They are certainly on an upwards trajectory at the moment."