Aston Villa boss Smith: West Ham a team to emulate | OneFootball

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith admits West Ham United are a club they look to as a role model.

Smith says Europe is a target this season.

"After getting promoted, our remit was to stay up and we have progressed from 17th to 11th," said Smith. "The next step is the hardest because you have to try to go past established Premier League teams.

"Some of those teams have been top-four teams in the last decade as well - Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton come into that category. West Ham did brilliantly last season and we want to emulate that this season if we can.

"We haven't made as good a start as we would have liked but it's important the confidence we built up in the Chelsea game, despite the scoreline, is taken into the home game."

For their clash with Everton, Smith will be without Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Carney Chukwuemeka, and praised fellow youngster Jacob Ramsey.

“I gave JJ his debut in the Championship when he was 17 and we felt that he had the potential to become a top player," said Smith. “He looks strong, athletic, and he's always been a talented footballer."