Journo details Dean Smith and Luke Ayling exchange in Leeds loss to Aston Villa
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith attempted underhand tactics to try and distract Luke Ayling as Leeds United lost 1-0 on Saturday.
That is according to Birmingham Live journalist Ashley Preece who observed an intriguing exchange between the duo at Elland Road.
It sounds like Aston Villa were prepared to do anything to secure all three points as Smith resorted to desperate measures to put off the Leeds full-back.
As he recounted on the Birmingham Mail website, Preece said: “During the game, Smith also kept making Leeds’ Luke Ayling laugh and smirk in annoyance as the Villa boss kept telling El Ghazi he had the better of Leeds’ right-back which, of course, he did.
“Ayling, meanwhile, was having none of it while it was Smith’s gamesmanship which did the trick.”
Short memory, Dean?
We think you’d have to be up pretty early to catch Ayling out and distract him from the task in hand.
It might not have been one of his better games but he has still been one of our best and most consistent players this season and it is his cheeky-chappy personality that has also stood out since his 2016 arrival from Bristol City.
Ayling is usually in good spirits while also maintaining a steely focus that has helped to inspire us to mid-table safety and away from any relegation fight.
He would not allow any distractions but it is interesting to note the desperation of Smith.
The Villa manager wasn’t so complimentary about us in the heated Championship fixture at Elland Road in 2019 and it looks like he was trying to exact revenge.
While Bielsa showed his class in that game as he demanded Villa be given a goal, Smith failed to show the same dignity on Saturday evening.
His side may have come out on top but class will always shine through and Smith has none of that.
In other Leeds United news, Danny Mills says investment is imperative to Whites progress.