By Aston Villa FC

Dean Smith saluted Aston Villa’s defensive resilience this season as they equalled a club-record 15th clean sheet in a Premier League season courtesy of a goalless draw against Everton.

Emi Martinez saved superbly to keep out Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 87th-minute header and preserve a hard-fought point from an evenly-balanced encounter against the Toffees at Villa Park.

Villa last kept 15 clean sheets in a top-flight campaign in 2009/10, with Brad Friedel between the sticks.

And head coach Smith was quick to pour praise on both Martinez and Villa’s collective defensive efforts as a team.

Aston Villa v Everton

Speaking to VillaTV post-match, he said: “Big congratulations, not just to Emi Martinez, but the whole team.

“Emi’s a super signing for us, a super goalkeeper, he’s kept us in some games, made some big saves; but he’ll be the first to admit he’s been well marshalled as well by the people in front of him.

“Making what could be very good chances into comfortable saves for him.

“But he’s got a big presence and we’re happy to have him – big congratulations on equalling that.”

You can hear Dean’s full post-match interview below…