It was another majorly disappointing night for Aston Villa against Queens Park Rangers on Friday.

The Villans now sit 17th in the Championship table after succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road, their third in four league outings.

In a game which had very little quality throughout the night, the R’s took the lead through Pawel Wszolek just before half-time, and denied Villa from making any real chances throughout the second half.

Villa, for all their dominance, could not break a valiant QPR defence down, despite putting on the pressure throughout the second half and accruing a rate of 68% possession.

Having won just two of their last thirteen league games, it seems like the January transfer window can’t come quick enough for Dean Smith, who will be looking to make an overhaul of signings if he is turn the club's fortunes around.

It’s hardly a surprise to say that Villa looked shaky, once again, in defence on Friday night - their most experienced and perhaps “best” defender James Chester was cut open for the R’s goal, and could not deal with the pace that QPR’s players brought throughout the game.

They have now conceded 23 goals in 15 league games, only four teams in the Championship have conceded more which really does say it all.

Smith obviously cannot do anything about it until January, but he simply needs to have two, maybe even three defenders lined up for the first day of the transfer window…

There may not even be a need to splash out on one signing though, as one player who currently finds himself out on loan is displaying attributes that Villa are crying out for currently - that player is Tommy Elphick.

The 31-year-old currently finds himself out on loan at strugglers Hull City, and was left out of the Villa first team despite netting on the opening game of the season against the Tigers.

Life at Villa Park hasn't been too tranquil for Elphick since his arrival from AFC Bournemouth in 2016, he was the scapegoat in what was a first poor season under Roberto Di Matteo and was second best to Chester and John Terry last term.

But at Hull, despite their dismal start to the season, he has been a mainstay and a standout performer in the Hull defence, and if Hull are to avoid relegation this season, it’ll be partly down to the influence of the 31-year-old at the back.

Elphick was by far and away Hull’s best player on Saturday afternoon in a vital 1-0 win against Bolton Wanderers, and was the linchpin of a depleted defensive line that defended magnificently throughout.

The 31-year-old coped well with Bolton’s physical front line of Clayton Donaldson and Christian Doidge throughout, and also helped the young Robbie McKenzie who made his full Championship debut for the Tigers.

Sure, Elphick isn't the most solid option Villa can get, and Smith should definitely be looking at a couple of more defenders in January, but they are stretched defensively and Elphick would be a very good option for Smith to have - should Villa have a recall option.