Aston Villa cannot afford to repeat failed experiment of Hause at left-back

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Aston Villa badly needed defensive reinforcements during last month’s transfer window after Steve Bruce left Dean Smith short at the back.

One of the players Smith was able to get through the door was promising English defender Kortney Hause from Midlands rivals Wolves.

Hause was handed his full Villa debut last night as Smith took on his former club Brentford for the first time since leaving Griffin Park last year but slipped to a 1-0 defeat that would have been even more galling given his history with the club.

Hause was fielded out at left-back and did not impress; his lack of football may well have caught up with him, but his attributes also lend themselves much more to his preferred central defensive role.

Kause was exposed by Brentford’s smart passing play and while Smith needs an upgrade on Neil Taylor, the early evidence is that the Wolves loanee isn’t the man.

And Smith needs to find a way to improve his side’s defensive record because if they continue conceding goals at their current rate, they will simply lose too much ground in the play-off race.

Hause may be able to help out on that score, but it would be more useful to move him inside to centre-half; fellow new-boy Tyrone Mings would be a better bet on the left.