Defender calls on Aston Villa to 'graft' if they are to turn form around
Matty Cash admits hard work is the only answer to Villa’s early season struggles.
Unai Emery’s men are still without a win and were blasted as “lazy” by their manager after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland.
Cash scored Villa’s first Premier League goal of the campaign to put them ahead at the Stadium of Light but the home side, reduced to 10-men when Reinildo Mandava was sent-off in the 33rd minute, hit back through Wilson Isidor.
The right-back shared Emery’s frustration at the performance and believes everyone needs to improve if Villa are to turn their form around.
He said: “When you play against a team that go down to 10 men early on, we have to dominate the ball more, we have to try and do everything to win the game.
“We had a few chances, but we need to be more resilient. We need to try and put games to bed early, I think that’s been our struggle this season.
“It’s a team collective. As a team, we’ve got to be better. With the quality we have, we need to be higher up the league.
“We need to keep working hard. The only way we’re going to turn it around is by grafting every day.”
Villa sit 18th in the table having taken three points from their first five matches.
That includes consecutive draws on the road at Everton and Sunderland, while Emery’s team drew 1-1 at Brentford last week in the Carabao Cup before losing the tie on penalties.
Cash believes there have been signs of improvement since the international break but concedes more is needed.
“Over the last few games, there’s definitely been improvements,” he said.
“We got a clean sheet away at Everton, midweek was okay. It was an improvement, but we need to win.
“This is a results business. You have to win games in the Premier League because you’re playing against top players every week.
“You need to be focused and switched on. Me, myself and every one of us as a group.
“Hopefully we can turn it around. We’ve got a great manager, we’ve got great players, but you’re only as good as your last game.
“We have to work hard, we have to try and turn it around.”
