The stark reality staring Villa in the face: Smith was better than Gerrard.

It’s been suggested, not least by Gerrard himself, that he hasn’t been given a fair break following in the footsteps of Villa boy Dean Smith.

Likewise AVFC History have been accused of pining for the Smith.

Neither frankly are true.

Smith brought a team up from the Championship and led the club for a season in the top tier with less than a handful of players having had any Premier League experience whatsoever.

Taking 2020-21 onwards until Smith’s sacking in November 2021 - and accepting that is a more directly comparable squad to today’s under Gerrard - with a mix of top flight experience and (increasingly less) youth the following stands out:

• Over this period, Dean Smith achieved a win rate of 41%.

• Gerrard has a win rate of 35%.

• Dean Smith’s loss rate through was a pretty unhealthy 43%.

• Gerrard’s by contrast is an appalling 48%.

Finally in terms of points earn per game:

• Smith delivered on average 1.39 points each time the team played.

• Gerrard? 1.23 points.

That is why we say there has been no improvement under Gerrard.

It is also why we say things have become materially worse since his appointment.

Not convinced?

Try this:

Smith’s first 31 top flight games with a series of Premier League novices delivered a win rate of 39%, a loss rate of 45% and a PPG of 1.32.

All materially better than Gerrard has achieved to date with an experienced squad.

There really is no other way you can cut it.

Gerrard is poor and crucially worsening with every game.