'I don't think Villa are going to end up finishing in the top six this season'

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie feels it would be a "big ask" for the club to finish in the top six this season.

The Villains recorded their 13th consecutive home win on Sunday - equalling a 40 year club record - and now sit fifth in the table, three points off Manchester City at the top.

Despite this good form, Hendrie is still cautious about expectations for his former side.

"I've said this to a lot of Villa fans, I don't get carried away. I think last season was really hard to judge. There were lots of teams that didn't perform, Liverpool, the Spurs, the Chelseas," he said on Kammy & Ben's Proper Football podcast.

"There were lots of teams that were off it last season. This season's going to be different. I'd take a top-half finish. I don't think we'll finish in the top six. I really think that's a big ask. Again, if they finished seventh, eighth, I think it'd be a really good season."

Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery has had an impressive impact at Villa since taking over from Steven Gerrard last season, leading them to seventh in the last campaign and European football, but Hendrie - who spent 14 years at the club - just wants to see more progress.

"I think it's all about this progression that Villa need to sort of establish," he added.

"I think that Unai will bring the players in and they will sort of progress on that. But I don't think they're going to end up finishing in the top six this season by any stretch."