Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has called on his side to play with more freedom after admitting a lack of confidence has impacted his team going forward.

The ex-Brentford boss arrived at Villa Park with a reputation for playing stylish, attacking football and the initial signs were positive as Villa scored goals for fun.

However, they have dried up somewhat in recent weeks and Smith told the Express & Star he wants more from his team in the final third.

"We’ve got to find the balance of good defensive displays but also get the fluidity of our attacking play back, too.

"For me, it’s been since the FA Cup game, we haven’t been as fluid in our play as we would like. That comes from a confidence."

Villa have picked up just 13 points from their last 12 games and they head into today's clash against West Brom sitting seven points away from the play-offs, with some of their rivals above also having a game in hand.

Therefore, the local derby has taken on extra significance and Smith will be wanting a big performance from his side.

The Verdict

When Smith first took over there was a clear contrast in style from the Steve Bruce era and the fans understandably loved it.

Unfortunately, they haven't maintained those levels in recent weeks - with the loss of Jack Grealish a major reason for that given his ability.

But, others should be able to step up and they need to start delivering as soon as possible because the gap to the play-offs is growing.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.