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Dean Smith: Aston Villa will be prepared

Dean Smith has vowed ‘we’ll be ready’ as Villa put the finishing touches to their play-off final preparations.

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Villa will be roared on by more than 36,000 travelling fans when they face Derby at Wembley on Monday for a place in the Premier League.

Many of those made the same journey 12 months ago when their team missed out on promotion with a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Fulham.

But while Smith knows there is no way to guarantee a positive result, he has promised his players will be more than ready for the challenge.

“It’s a game of football and we all know what can happen, the bounce of the ball and a decision which goes against you,” he said.

“All the fans can be rest assured of is the players will be focused, prepared and ready for it.

“We believe we have a team full of confidence with great belief. They know they have to go and perform at Wembley in front of the fans, who have been tremendous for most of the season.”

Smith described his players as “confident, but not over-confident” ahead of a match worth an estimated £170million to the winning club.

Villa roared into the play-offs thanks to a club record 10-match winning run, though Derby also finished the campaign impressively and saw off Leeds in their semi-final to reach Wembley.

“The bookmakers will probably have us as favourites with the way we finished the season but it is a one-off game at Wembley Stadium,” said Smith.

“Derby have just been and beaten Leeds. For me it is a 50/50. We are confident but I am sure Frank will be sitting in the same seat and say they are confident too. Whoever turns up on the day is going to be the victor.”

Defensive hero Tyrone Mings has, meanwhile, thanked for Villa fans for putting “a smile back on his face” during his loan spell from Bournemouth.

The 26-year-old has played a major role in Villa reaching Wembley with a string of superb performances at the back.

He said: “The fans got behind me and the team. I have made no secret obviously that I have enjoyed my time here. I am enjoying myself here and being a part of this football club

“But I’m under no illusion that our job is to get promoted. Hopefully we can enjoy success in the final.”