Villa boss calls for players to take more responsibility

Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith believes the players have embraced his plea for them to take more responsibility.

The club hosts Bolton Wanderers on Friday. "We did a debrief on Monday and spoke about some things we can do better but we also spoke about the positives," he told a press conference.

"The players are really receptive, get involved in discussion. I've said before I want them to take responsibility and become responsible and some of the points they brought forward were really good and will help us as a group moving forward.

"On the training ground it has been very good. They are a good group who want to get better."

After winning his first match in charge after taking over from Steve Bruce, Smith has lost his next two but knows expectations are high heading into a match against opponents who have won just once in 11 matches.

Bolton come into the game struggling for form, with 'The Trotters' suffering October woes.

"It's another game in this league Aston Villa will be expected to win, but Bolton will have something to say about it," he added.