Gordon Cowans: Aston Villa have finally found the right man in Dean Smith

Smith takes his 11th-placed team to St Andrew’s for a play-off six-pointer against city rivals Blues, who sit two points and three places above them in the Championship table.

Villa are aiming to build on last weekend’s 4-0 win over Derby, a result which reignited their hopes of catching the top six between now and May.

Prior to that they had won just two out of 14 league games, with Smith coming in for criticism for the first time since replacing Steve Bruce in the Villa Park hotseat last October.

But European Cup winner Cowans is confident the boyhood fan will deliver long-term success.

He told the Express & Star: “I think we have got the right manager because we’ve finally got a manager who cares about Aston Villa.

“He’s a very good manager as well. The football he had Brentford playing was fantastic.

“Dean is the right man and he will get the best out of them. If he’s not getting the best out of them he’ll get rid of them and bring some better players in.

“He loves the club, he’s Villa through and through. He cares so much about the club, the supporters and everything.

“He will get there, I am sure he will. He needs support but give him time and he will get things right.”

Villa are unbeaten in 13 league meetings with their fiercest rivals, a run which stretches back nearly 14 years. Victory on Sunday would see them leapfrog Garry Monk's team in the table.

Cowans added: "Villa are not out of it but they have a lot to do and the Blues game is a massive one.

"They will be desperate to beat us. Blues are having a very good season. They have had a lot of trouble off the pitch. They have done well to come through it.

"Let’s hope we can get above them. That is the first step, getting above them and getting higher up the league."

Blues boss Monk yesterday revealed the club had failed with a request for Gary Gardner, on loan at St Andrew’s from Villa, to play against his parent club.

Gordon Cowans was speaking at Dining with Legends, a charity event organised by Smile for Joel. For more information on the charity visit smileforjoel.com