Dan Bardell hosts The Athletic's podcast all about Aston Villa with club correspondent Gregg Evans and Junior Editor Holly Percival.

Dean Smith has presided over a remarkable spell of improvement at the Villa, but five consecutive Premier League defeats after a dismal end to the previous season forced the ownership's hand and he was dismissed with the team just two points above the relegation zone.

Steven Gerrard is the favourite to take over, but can he be lured away from Rangers half way through a season? We also speak to Southampton writer Dan Sheldon about Friday's game, Danny Ings, and links to their manager Ralph Hassenhüttl.

There's the small matter of a local derby in the WSL this weekend, before we finish with our top three (nay, five) Dean Smith moments.

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