Aston Villa solution is simple, if only it was easy

The Italian has made a point of playing down expectations in recent weeks, no doubt mindful of the challenge he faced in turning round a squad which last season turned defeats like Wednesday night's into an art form.

Still, nothing could quite prepare anyone for seeing such a collapse first hand. So it was maybe unsurprising Di Matteo found it hard to explain how a team which had looked in complete control for the opening 35 minutes could end up so well beaten after 90.

"We looked quite compact and difficult for the opposition to break us down," he said. "In the second half suddenly there wasn't this team ethic. It's difficult to explain."

If nothing else, the opening two games of his reign will have confirmed his suspicions there will be no quick fix to Villa's problems. Sunday's defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, due to Fernando Forestieri's 85th minute goal, was gut-wrenching in nature yet there were enough signs of encouragement.

Wednesday, by contrast, felt like a big step backward and has already piled the pressure ahead of tomorrow's home opener against Rotherham.

The solution, in essence, is simple. Villa need a win.

"When we get a win it will boost everyone's confidence," said Di Matteo at Kenilworth Road, before exclaiming: "We need one!"

Right now a victory feels a very long way away for a club which has not picked up three points since February 6 and Rotherham, the first of many sides who will turn up at Villa Park this season aiming to give the high-profile hosts a bloody nose, are unlikely to make things easy.

The Millers, managed by former Celtic and Everton defender Alan Stubbs, are also looking to bounce back from their own cup embarrassment having been beaten 5-4 at home by Morecambe on Tuesday night.

"As a footballer, if you want to play at a high level these are the sort of places you have to stand up and be counted," said Stubbs.

"It'll be Villa's first home game of the season and I'm sure there'll be a big crowd there. They'll want to get the ball rolling with a win.

"We know we need to improve and we can't make fundamental mistakes like we did (against Morecambe)."

The visitors will be without skipper Lee Frecklington through injury though Darnell Fisher, who signed from Celtic earlier this week, goes straight into the squad. Kirk Broadfoot and Joe Mattock are also both back available following injury.

Villa are meanwhile assessing Nathan Baker after the centre-back was forced out of Wednesday's cup game at half-time after suffering a bang on the head.

Tommy Elphick, Pierluigi Gollini and Ashley Westwood are expected to return having been rested at Luton.