Aston Villa told to stick with Dean Smith as side are 'just going through a phase'

Villa have seen a sharp drop in form of late, losing four games on the trot following a 4-1 home defeat to high flying West Ham.

And it didn't take long for speculation surrounding Villa boss Dean Smith's position to spark.

Reports have already began to emerge this week of a possible replacement for Smith if he remains unable to turn Villa's season around.

Rumoured replacements include ex-Roma coach Paulo Fonseca, who has been linked to Newcastle and Tottenham before Antonio Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo.

However, talkSPORT pundits and ex-Villa men Darren Bent and Tony Cascarino have warned the Villa board not to jump the gun when it comes to Smith's future.

Speaking on the talkSPORT Breakfast, Bent was quick to agree with Ally McCoist's view that Villa's recent slump was just 'a phase' and the Midlands club's signings should be enough to replace to fill the gap Jack Grealish left.

"Of course they miss Jack," the ex-Villa striker explained. "Jack was fantastic for them. I thought at the start they recruited really well.

"I think when they got Danny Ings and pinched him under everyone's noses I thought what a signing that is.

"They've brought him in, they've brought in Emi Buendia, who I'm still unconvinced by.

"I think Dean Smith's still trying to find the best formation".

Aston Villa had a fine start to this Premier League campaign with new signing Danny Ings finding the net in his first two games and the Villains winning away against Manchester United.

However Dean Smith's side have suffered four losses on the bounce, including a last minute loss to rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Cascarino, who played for the Villains in the 90s, has said that its hard to pin the reason for Villa's unexpected decline, but thinks sacking Smith would be a rash decision.

"He [Dean Smith] had to make changes, Tyrone Mings has been left out and when you're captain that's a big statement, that's not just anybody at a football club," said Cascarino.

"It backfired but no one could complain certainly the heart of their defence being left out when you know they've conceded a lot of goals

"They haven't even got close to the early form at the start of this season

"It's a strange dynamic and Dean Smith certainly deserves time to continue and try and turn things around".

However it's not just the Villains' flailing defence that has been an issue, with the ex-Villa pair say Dean Smith's side just 'aren't firing yet'.

"At the start of the season Ings was on fire when Watkins was out injured and obviously he's tried to play them together," Bent explained.

"They will be fine but I just think Dean Smith, I'm a little bit worried about him in terms of his job, but I wouldn't get rid of him. I think he's done very, very well".

Aston Villa face eighth place Brighton this weekend, when Smith will be hoping to figure out his best formation and get his players to click.

And given the job Smith has done for the club in recent years, Villa fans won't be hitting the panic button yet.