Norwich v Aston Villa: Promoted rivals will be a test

A fortnight’s break until the next fixture with Brighton means there will be plenty of time to reflect on what happens at Carrow Road. Smith does not want to spend the first part of the international break dwelling on defeat.

That was exactly the scenario he faced when Villa were beaten, in controversial fashion, at Crystal Palace to end the season’s opening month.

Tomorrow’s result will also go a long way to determining how his team’s progress since then is viewed.

Villa’s performances in their second month back in the top flight have generally been better than the first. Yet the three matches since defeat at Palace have delivered only two points and include big missed opportunities to beat both Arsenal and Burnley.

The current mood around Bodymoor Heath is one of frustration. Smith knows a good result tomorrow can help lift it.

“The last international break we went into off the back of a poor performance against Crystal Palace,” he said.

“It was a result which should not have been but it is not nice to go into an international period with that result or performance.

“The players know we need to go and get a performance on Saturday. We are getting better, I have no doubts about that. You look at the stats but you feel it during the game.”

Plenty of focus has fallen on Villa’s inability to hold an advantage, having led twice against both Arsenal and Burnley but come away with only one point.

Smith finds comfort in his team’s ability to get in front in the first place but acknowledges they must get better at killing opponents off.

“We are certainly doing something right,” he said. “We will continue to go toe-to-toe with teams and try to beat them. The biggest thing at the moment is finding that second goal.”

A win tomorrow would see Villa, 18th in the table, climb out of the bottom three and above the hosts, who currently sit just a place and a point ahead of them.

Daniel Farke’s Canaries, promoted as champions last season, have been beaten in five of their first seven matches but pulled off the result of the season so far last time out on home turf, beating Manchester City.

“Anybody who can beat Manchester City or Liverpool in this league is a team to be reckoned with,” said Smith. “We know they have firepower within their team. They’re tough to play against.”

Villa were beaten twice by the Canaries last term, though Smith is keen to point out his team is now very different.

“They won’t have played against this Aston Villa and some of my players won’t have played against them either,” he said.

“John McGinn, for instance, was suspended at their place last season and I left him out of the final match.”

Villa will again be without Jonathan Kodjia (cheekbone), though Henri Lansbury (ankle) is fit to return.