By Graham Hill
VILLA defender Kortney Hause is convinced Dean Smith’s side can stay in the top six after climbing into the play-off zone on Saturday.
A 3-0 win over Tony Pulis’ Middlesbrough – rivalling Villa for a play-off spot themselves – confirmed Villa’s season has been reignited with four successive victories.
And now Hause says the players are in no mood to let it slip now that Villa have worked their way back into contention.
The on-loan Wolves player said: “Can we stay in the top six? 100 per cent.

“We’re young, we’re confident and we’re hungry.
“There’s no reason why we can’t stay in sixth position or push on and go even higher.”
Villa’s momentum has been put on hold with the international break.
But Hause says they will be ready to face Blackburn at the end of the month.
He added: “We’re just hungry for every single game whether we have a week or two weeks off.
“Come the next game, I can guarantee you we will be ready and ‘at’ it to get the three points.”