Aston Villa manager Dean Smith believes Graham Potter has done a fantastic job at Albion.

Potter had been under some pressure up until the start of last month after the Seagulls had only won two games in the Premier League and found themselves just two points above the bottom three, with Fulham having a game in hand over them.

However, in their last six matches, Albion have picked up 11 points which included victories over Leeds, Tottenham, and reigning Premier League champions, Liverpool.

That has seen move up to 15th place in the table and ten points clear of Fulham in 18th.

Ahead of Villa’s trip to the Amex tomorrow night (8pm, Sky Sports), Smith has praised Potter for the job he has done at Albion in just over a season-and-a-half at the club.

He said: “I think Graham’s done a fantastic job coaching them, they look a really well-coached team with and without the ball. They press really well and make it hard for you to play out and in their build-up they’re very progressive on the ball.

“They’ve been a little bit unfortunate to be in the position they’re in.

"But I’m a believer in the expected goals ratio because it tells you about the performance levels, and they’ve been very high all season.

“It will be a tough game for us."

Villa head to the Amex looking to get some revenge from the reverse fixture at Villa Park in November.

Albion emerged victorious in a dramatic encounter winning 2-1 with goals from Danny Welbeck and Solly March.

But Smith believes his side were unlucky earlier in the season against the Seagulls.

He said: "We actually played well in the game at Villa Park and I believe we shaded that game and should have probably won it.

“We had a disputed penalty decision in the last minute. Now it’s our chance to go to a team that’s playing with more confidence than they were then and have been to Anfield and won.
"It will be a real tough game but I have every respect for what Brighton are doing.”