Ross McCormack: Aston Villa must close the gap

Roberto Di Matteo's team go into Wednesday's home game with Brentford 17th in the table, already ten points behind early season pacesetters Huddersfield after just one win in their opening six games.

McCormack was one of nine new arrivals at Villa Park during the summer and the £12million striker acknowledges there is still a long way to go for a revamped squad with several players still finding their feet. But he warned there is a need to get results quickly or risk the gap between them and the top preying on the minds of players.

He said: "I think probably, individually, the players have probably looked at it and thought we don't want let it to get too much bigger but collectively the manager, (captain) Tommy Elphick, senior players around the squad are all saying we have to stay positive."

"The manager said he didn't know what we we need to do to win a game. I think it is simple. We need to take our chances and we will win games.

"The 10 point gap just now with 40 games to go it's not massive we still have a lot of the teams up there to play but if we can't start to close that gap then all of a sudden it gets a bit concerning."

McCormack scored his second goal for the club following his summer move from Fulham in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest. Villa had 26 shots on goal, compared to the visitors three but still came away with only a point due in part to poor finishing, with McCormack himself hitting the post from close range.

"It felt like a defeat but we are still unbeaten at home if you want to put a positive spin on it," he said. "We have plenty of time though, at the same time, in a couple of weeks if we don't start doing it then all of a sudden games are running out.

"It's a long season. We are only six games in, 40 games left, 120 points, so it is all to play for."