Aston Villa have recovered from a slow start and are motoring on two fronts now
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Danny Murphy couldn't believe Unai Emery was being criticised
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Aston Villa are up, running and ready to put their early season struggles behind them.
That's according to Danny Murphy who was impressed with the way Unai Emery switched things up tactically in the 2-1 win over Burnley last time out.
Emery opted to play Donyell Malen closer to Ollie Watkins as a striker and was rewarded with two goals and an extension of the winning run to four straight victories.
Villa's goal-scoring issues and poor form are in the rearview mirror now and any talk of Emery being under pressure over before it ever really gained much traction.
The pundit is optimistic about their prospects.
"I couldn't believe any rumours or murmur, I should say, of discontent," he told Match of the Day 2.
"This guy is a brilliant manager and great managers find a way.
"He's got plenty of talent in the squad. It was only a matter of time before they were going to start getting some wins. I expect Villa to kick on now."
If they do so it will be against the Premier League's big hitters.
While Villa have beaten Burnley and Fulham and Bologna and Feyenoord in the Europa League, the quality of opposition is about to step up.
Villa face three Champions League clubs in their next three Premier League matches, Tottenham away, Man City at home and Liverpool away.
They head into the next international break with a testing home game against Bournemouth.
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