So far this season the one word to sum up the fortunes of Aston Villa would be average. Distinctively average at that.

The hangover from defeat in the play-off final may well have lingered amongst supporters and players alike for far too long.

With just over a third of the season gone, Villa find themselves sitting in 14th place with five wins, six draws and five defeats on the board. They have also scored 24 and conceded 23.

Dean Smith has picked up two of those wins and two defeats since his tenure began but he is now approaching the most important six weeks of Aston Villa's season.

Firstly they will travel to Derby County who under Frank Lampard have had a very fine start to the season and find themselves sat comfortably in the top six. Following on from their trip to Derby, Villa host Birmingham in a game that doesn't need much of an introduction!

Before the month is up Dean Smith's men have to host Aitor Karanka's Nottingham Forest who have only lost one game away from the City Ground all season at the time of writing.

Two tough away fixtures follow at the beginning of December for Aston Villa who will then travel to the Riverside to face a Middlesbrough side who defensively have been formidable so far this campaign.

Following on from this, it's a trip to the Hawthorns to face a West Brom team who have averaged nearly 3 goals a game at home this season.

As if these games aren't quite daunting enough Villa then host Stoke City and then table-topping Leeds United three days before Christmas in a game that is sure to have a raucous atmosphere.

Dean Smith doesn't have any more time to find his feet at Villa Park. If the next six weeks prove to be difficult for Villa any hopes of returning to the top tier this season become rather inconceivable.

Should they manage to come through this spell having picked up a number of positive results however the momentum this results in could be the catalyst Villa need to make a surge up the table.