Aston Villa are a team transformed since last Crystal Palace appointment

For Dean Smith and his team the Eagles’ visit on July 12 represented the last roll of the dice in a fight against relegation which was starting to appear increasingly forlorn.

Seven points adrift of safety with only four matches left and having not won a match since January, Villa looked destined for the Championship.

Less than six months later, Smith now finds himself playing down talk of European football, after a stunning escape from relegation – which began with a 2-0 win over Palace – that has continued with a start to the new season almost equally impressive.

“I guess it does sum up the speed of the transformation,” said Smith. “It was a big game (back in July).

“Trezeguet got a couple of goals in that game and it was a really good performance.

“It was what we needed because we had played well in a number of games but not got points or the wins we felt we deserved.

“That was what kick-started the comeback from seven points behind to retaining our status. Now we have Palace in a big game. They have just been beaten 7-0 by Liverpool which can happen against Liverpool and Man City.

“We feel we are in a good place at the moment and we need to make sure we are ready for a smarting team who will want to get back on track.”

Villa have won seven of their first 12 league matches to sit ninth in the table, with two matches in hand on most of those teams above them.

It is the manner of their victories in particular, from statement performances against Liverpool and Arsenal to the brushing aside of Albion in Sunday’s 3-0 derby win which has started supporters dreaming.

Inside the camp, Smith insists feet remain planted firmly on the floor, to the extent Villa’s boss would not even discuss a potentially season-defining run of fixtures against Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham to come after Palace.

“I can understand supporters enjoying the way we are playing,” said Smith. “The disappointment is they are not there at the moment because I think there has been some really good football.

“Three out of our six wins away from home have been 3-0 and being a Villa fan that is great to see.

“But as players and coaches we know we are still progressing, as a club we know we are still progressing and there is an awful lot of developing to do.”

An indication of the focus and hunger currently running Villa’s squad can be seen in Smith’s scheduling a training session on Christmas morning.

The Villa boss has typically given players the day off, a tradition which dates back his time in charge of Walsall.

His decision to break with that is motivated partly by the pandemic and also the desire to maintain the rhythm built over recent weeks, with Villa playing away at Chelsea just 48 hours after they host Palace.

“I have always had a feeling I would get little out of the players on Christmas Day because they want to rush in and rush out,” explained Smith.

“But we are in the middle of a pandemic where we are not allowed to mix households. I feel we are in a good place and the players are quite happy with coming in.

“With two really important games coming up, I felt it was important we’re in.

“I’ve compromised. We’ll have an early start. They won’t be in as long but we’ll be working hard now for the upcoming games.”

The returning Ross Barkley (hamstring) and Ezri Konsa (illness) will be among those training.

Smith’s main selection dilemma is whether to stick with both Hawthorns goalscorers Anwar El Ghazi and Bertrand Traore or hand Barkley an instant recall.