Analysis

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Anwar El Ghazi of Aston Villa is mobbed by team mates after scoring to make it 5-4 during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on November 28, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Aston Villa Points Predictor: December 2018

Aston Villa 5-5 Nottingham Forest: Player ratings from goal-filled evening.

Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest: Crucial six-point swing at Villa Park, predicted XI

Analysis: Jonathan Kodjia is stepping up for Aston Villa

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25: Alan Hutton of Aston Villa celebrates during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Birmingham City at Villa Park on November 25, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Aston Villa 4-2 Blues: Player Ratings from Second City Derby win

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: A general view of the outside of the ground prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Cardiff City at Villa Park on November 26, 2016 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)

A First-Rate Plan for the Second City Derby

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Scott Hogan of Aston Villa looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Bristol City at Villa Park on January 1, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Scott Hogan renaissance yet to materialize for club or country

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Brentford at Villa Park on August 22, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Aston Villa Report Card: Grading position groups at the one-third mark

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: John Terry assistant coach of Aston Villa and Richard OKelly assistant head coach and Dean Smith, Manager of Aston Villa look on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Swansea City at Villa Park on October 20, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Aston Villa 3-0 Derby: 3 Thoughts Following Pride Park Victory

TELFORD, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Keinan Davis of Aston Villa during the Pre-season friendly between AFC Telford United and Aston Villa at New Bucks Head Stadium on July 14, 2018 in Telford, England. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Would a loan move benefit RHM’s or Davis’ chances at Aston Villa?

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Aston Villa’s injury news ahead of the Derby County clash

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Tammy Abraham of Aston Villa is tackled by Toni Leistner of QPR during the Sky Bet Championship match between Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa at Loftus Road on October 26, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Derby County: Predicted Lineup – November 10th

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Dean Smith manager of Aston Villa during a press conference at Villa Park Stadium on October 15, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Smith’s Tactics Restoring Villa’s Leaders Confidence to Lead Campaign

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Dean Smith manager of Brentford applauds the fans after the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Brentford at Bet365 Stadium on August 11, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Opinion: Style of play evolution taking shape at Aston Villa

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Aston Villa Assistant manager, John Terry speaks with members of the back room staff prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa at Loftus Road on October 26, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Aston Villa Points Predictor: November 2018

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 15: Dean Smith manager of Aston Villa during a press conference at Villa Park Stadium on October 15, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Aston Villa’s team news ahead of the Bolton fixture

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa tackles Massimo Luongo of QPR during the Sky Bet Championship match between Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa at Loftus Road on October 26, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Bolton Wanderers: Predicted Lineup – November 2nd

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Albert Adomah of Aston Villa reacts to a chance during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Swansea City at Villa Park on October 20, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Queens Park Rangers: Predicted lineup – October 26th

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Dean Smith, Manager of Aston Villa looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Swansea City at Villa Park on October 20, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Dean Smith already proving to be a critical thinker

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Tammy Abraham of Aston Villa shoots during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Swansea City at Villa Park on October 20, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Norwich City: Predicted lineup at Carrow Road

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Dean Smith, Manager of Aston Villa looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Swansea City at Villa Park on October 20, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Aston Villa 1-0 Swansea City: 3 thoughts from Smith’s first match

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: John McGinn of Aston Villa on the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Swansea City at Villa Park on October 20, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Aston Villa 1-0 Swansea City: Player Ratings – October 20th

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Ørjan Nyland of Aston Villa celebrates after his team mate Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa (not pictured) scored their first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Brentford at Villa Park on August 22, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Dean Smith philosophy may not be visible right away

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Dean Smith manager of Brentford applauds the fans after the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Brentford at Bet365 Stadium on August 11, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Aston Villa: Dean Smith’s track record indicates he’s here for the long haul

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 17: Paulo Fonseca, Manager of Shakhtar Donetsk gives his team instructions during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Feyenoord and Shakhtar Donetsk at Feijenoord Stadion on October 17, 2017 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

The Aston Villa Manager Search: Separating Contenders From Pretenders

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Aston Villa coach Steve Bruce before the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Aston Villa at Ashton Gate on September 28, 2018 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Aston Villa 3-3 Preston North End: Chester sent-off, Bruce doomed

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Birkir Bjarnason (20) of Aston Villa scores during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Aston Villa at Ashton Gate on September 28, 2018 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Aston Villa Points Predictor: October 2018

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Tammy Abraham of Aston Villa appeals to the referee after tussling with Nathan Baker of Bristol City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Aston Villa at Ashton Gate on September 28, 2018 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Aston Villa vs. Preston North End: Predicted lineup – October 2nd