Aston Villa were defeated 2-0 to Preston North End on Saturday to signal the end of Roberto Di Matteo’s short reign as the club’s manager.

The Italian collected his papers on Monday morning with new owner Dr Tony Xia opting to sever ties with the manager who he appointed just 124 days ago.

The Villains were disappointing in relegation last season and it was expected that the appointment of Champions League winner Di Matteo would rouse the club and offer them a chance of an instant return to the top flight.

It hasn’t quite gone as planned and the axe falls on the former Chelsea boss after just one win in 11 games, with the defeat at Deepdale the final straw for the club’s hierarchy.

Bristol City boss Lee Johnson is among the early favourites for the vacancy after overseeing a blistering start to the season at Ashton Gate.

Football League World writer Lee Clarke takes a look at two pros and two cons of Aston Villa appointing Lee Johnson as the club’s new manager.

Pro – Attacking football

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Lee Johnson has earned a reputation at Oldham Athletic, Barnsley and Bristol City for playing exciting, attractive football and that would be music to Villa fans’ ears.

Di Matteo was guilty of playing a negative style of football which was based around taking a lead and then trying to hold onto it, rather than looking to finish teams off.

Villa fans don’t expect to win every single game but they do expect a team that tries to attack teams and with a plethora of attacking quality within their ranks, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be doing better on that front.

Con – Lack of big club experience

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With all due respect to the clubs which Johnson has managed, none even get close to the size of Aston Villa and that could be an issue.

It will take a certain sort of manager to revive Villa’s flailing fortunes and the likes of Steve Bruce and Steve McClaren would certainly be more adequate candidates, should the Villains look towards experience.

With Villa going through managers at an alarming rate at present can they really afford to take a punt on someone with as little experience as Johnson, with promotion imperative this season?

Pro – Gets the best out of youth

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During Johnson’s managerial career to date he has a decent track record when it comes to utilising younger players at a particular club, which could be useful given Villa’s youthful looking squad.

Villa have some promising youngsters within their ranks who have perhaps underachieved in recent times and Johnson could get the very best out of them.

Players such as Jack Grealish could thrive under the management of a younger boss, whilst Johnson might also replace some of the underachieving experienced members of the squad with players from the youth team.

Con – No experience of managing in the Premier League

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With £52 million plummeted on high-profile players during the summer it is clear that Aston Villa are hopeful of playing Premier League football again very soon.

Lee Johnson looks as though he is taking to the Championship pretty well but how would he get on in the Premier League?

The Villains would be wiser to opt for a manager who has experience managing in challenging for honours at the top of the Championship, whilst also boasting some expertise when it comes to managing in the top flight.

Aston Villa fans, would you welcome Lee Johnson to Villa Park? Who would you like to see as the club's next manager? Let us know in the comments below!!!