The fanfare that surrounded Dean Smith's arrival at Villa Park is a dim and distant memory, as fans face up to the harsh reality of where their side are in the Championship, as we head into the business end of the season.

Currently Villa are in 10th place in the table, nine points off the play-off places and without a win in four, hardly the form of a promotion chasing side.

With the automatic promotion places 17 points away from them, Villa need to put together an impressive run over their final 13 matches, just to get within a sniff of the play-offs.

So how big an embarrassment would it be if Villa missed out on the play-offs?

We discuss.....

Jacob Potter

"It would be a huge blow.

"But I’m not sure it would be an embarrassment as the Championship has a considerable amount of quality in it this season.

"It would be a disappointment for Villa if they didn’t reach the top six, as they have the quality on paper to be one of the strongest teams in the division."

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Gary Hutchinson

“If it is, prepare to be embarrassed.

“They’re not making the top six.

“It’s time to take stock in the summer and refocus.

“They have to keep Smith. Getting rid of him would be embarrassing.”

Jay Taylor

“The amount of money spent in this league and the number of teams who are pushing for promotion it would not be an embarrassment.

“Villa have the history and heritage, but it does not give them a divine right to be in and around the play-off picture.

“I don’t think their squad is good enough to make it to the top-six and with Dean Smith’s time at the club still in its infancy, so it’s more of a transitional season for the Villa.”