Aston Villa news: What’s behind poor Premier League form?

For a team desperate to get in the mix for European football, failing to win any of the past four league games – when already off the pace – is doing nothing more than cementing mid-table status, especially when the past three games were against relegation-threatened teams.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Ipswich continued Villa’s poor record against 10-man teams, with Ipswich playing with a man fewer for 50 minutes. Failing to beat a team that has just three wins in 25 matches and a -27 goal difference suggests that a miraculous turnaround is needed.

Villa’s six draws at Villa Park have blunted their domestic ambitions this season and the home tests are about to get more difficult, with Liverpool, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle the upcoming visitors.

The well-documented issues lie at both ends of the pitch. An over-reliance on Ollie Watkins for goals magnifies the fact he leads the league in big chances missed with 21, and against Ipswich, Villa fielded their 10th different centre-back combination of the season.

The lazy outside narrative will tell you that Villa are struggling to handle the dual challenge of Champions League and Premier League football. However, considering the lack of quality in the Premier League at the moment – outside of Liverpool and Arsenal, few top teams are actually performing at their best -this simply is not true.

While Villa have had injuries, they possess depth that has only recently been tested in defence, which was poor even before injuries became a factor.

The truth is becoming increasingly clear – a talented Villa team have dropped the ball in the Premier League this season.

Soon, only silverware will provide the season’s proverbial silver lining. There is precedent – good Villa teams finished 11th when they lifted the European Cup in 1982 and 10th when they won the League Cup in 1994.

That is the straw I am clutching onto, with Champions League and FA Cup last-16 games to come.

Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said