Dean Smith spoke to VillaTV after watching his Aston Villa side secure three big points with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
Trezeguet’s brace helped secure a much-needed win in Villa’s battle to climb the Premier League table and away from danger.
Speaking post-match at Villa Park, here’s what Dean had to say…
On the victory…
“I thought we were worthy winners.
"We didn’t start the quickest, I thought the first five minutes they started brighter but then we got into the game really well and created some opportunities.
“Great move for Jack to have his chance at the far post and the keeper has made a good save.
“But funnily enough, I thought they we starting to have their best period in the last 10 minutes of the first half.
“We actually scored probably against the run of play with a great delivery from Conor, which we’ve become accustomed to.
“But second half I thought we were excellent, we were on the front foot, won a penalty which got overturned, got another goal, could have had another penalty.
“We put some really good balls into the box and had some chances from counter-attacks.
“But the thing that will please me is we defended resolutely and I thought Ezri Konsa was outstanding at the back.
“And Elmo as well, who came in late after Kourtney pulled out with a groin injury during the warm-up. I thought he dealt with Zaha expertly.”
On Trezeguet…
“He’s a good, bright player.
“It’s funny, we’re getting to a stage now, and I said this would happen, where players like Trezeguet and Douglas Luiz, players who were new at the start of this season, look accustomed to Premier League football now.
“I’m pleased for him to get the brace, they were two good finishes and it will do him the world of good.”
On the run-in…
“It was a big game for us here.
“The analogy I used with the players was, it was a two-legged semi-final, this game and Thursday.
“You’ve got to go and win this first game to have a chance in the away leg.
“And if we go and put in a performance against Everton and get the win then we get to our two finals.
“The players know how to play under pressure, they proved that here.
“It was always going to be tough against Liverpool and Manchester United, two of the best teams in this league if not the world at the moment.
“We’ve come out of that and taken the positives from those games into this one.”
You can watch Dean's full interview with VillaTV now, click here.
