Aston Villa are on a poor run of form and Dean Smith will be concerned.  

The former Brentford boss arrived with aspirations of leading his boyhood club back to the Premier League, yet despite a decent start, Villa are off the play-off pace in mid-February.

Over the course of the last 12 Championship fixtures, Villa have record only two wins, which came against Swansea City and relegation-threatened, Ipswich Town.

On Wednesday, Smith’s former club, Brentford, handed Villa their eighth defeat of the season, piling the pressure on ahead of this weekend’s clash with West Bromwich Albion.

Here at FLW, we take a look at THREE things that Smith must do to address Villa’s latest slump and get them back on the play-off trail…

Settle on a midfield unit

Granted, this is difficult with Jack Grealish’s injury, but Smith needs to find his best three players in his absence.

Conor Hourihane and John McGinn seem to be certainties to start, but who joins them in a trio changes.

Mile Jedinak, Birkir Bjarnason and Glenn Whelan are all options to consider and Smith needs to stick to one.

Get Jonathan Kodjia firing

Tammy Abraham is in fine form and a constant threat, but Villa rely on his goals.

Kodjia is somebody who can take the load of him in the coming weeks, albeit from a wide position.

He’s scored six goals this season, but needs to be doing more. Smith needs to help him rediscover his best levels.

Beat West Brom

Ultimately, the only way Villa can overcome this slump is by picking up some points.

It started when they drew with West Brom and it can end with a surprise victory over the Baggies.

Darren Moore’s side aren’t unbeatable and are there to be ‘got at’.

Smith’s side should play freely and go for the jugular.