Roberto Di Matteo: Movies and homework are key to Aston Villa success

A run of eight games without a win ahead of Saturday's trip to Preston has seen the Italian's position come under increasing scrutiny.

But Di Matteo insists he can handle the heat, with the father-of-three revealing how the normality of family life frequently offers an escape from the demands of the job.

"This is a job that comes with pressure," he said. "You kind of deal with it. I am not really sure how.

"I tend to go home and try to maybe watch a movie or do homework with my little daughter. I don't know if you've seen the latest Pablo Escobar film, it's good!

"If you're in a manager's job you have pressure, you live with it and you try to deal with it."

Di Matteo admitted poor results - Villa have won just one game this season - can have an impact on family life.

He said: "When the result is not right your weekend is not as good as when you win a game so your family life does suffer to some extent.

"It's not that bad but they certainly know how to deal with me and they are probably closer to me when I lose than when I win.

He went on: "I don't think I felt the pressure more when I first started than I do now. The pressure is always there to deliver."

Villa head to Deepdale looking for their first win away from home in almost 14 months. Reports have suggested Di Matteo could face the axe if his team fail to win, though the manager insists he retains the support of owner Tony Xia.

"The away win is certainly a monkey that we want to get rid of for sure," he said.

"I haven't heard talk about it (in the dressing room) but I know that it is always at the back of their mind somewhere.

"It's probably natural because the media don't cease to remind us of this fact."