Tyrone Mings among two Aston Villa stars slammed after confession - ex-teammate

Alan Hutton has slammed the lack of "organisation" and "communication" from the Aston Villa defence following the 4-0 defeat to Tottenham.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Villa full-back admitted centre-back duo Tyrone Mings, 29, and Ezri Konsa, 24, have failed to live up to expectations recently.

As quoted by the Express and Star (10 April) after the loss to Spurs, Gerrard confessed some players have "a lot to learn" and that they "have some issues" at the back.

He insisted there are "individual and collective" issues that need addressing, although he did not name names.

Hutton admitted he was concerned by the lack of communication and cohesiveness at the back.

He singled out the centre-back duo, including former teammate Mings, as those struggling the most.

"Organisation, I think, is a problem," Hutton told Football Insider's Russell Edge.

"Individual mistakes, being far too open, Villa Park is a big pitch. Defensively, you have to be tight, you have to be on it, you have to be communicating.

"I just don't see that at this moment in time. Nine goals conceded in four games is not great. It's difficult for me to sit here because I know them as players but defensively, they know they have to be better.

"Playing at this level, if you make poor judgments and errors, it's going to go against you. They're finding it out at the moment.

"It's a difficult time for the likes of Tyrone Mings and Konsa. They have had a lot of praise throughout the season but it's been difficult."

Konsa and Mings have made 25 and 29 appearances respectively in the Premier League this season.

The duo have played 81 times alongside each other across all competitions to date.

In other news, Aston Villa tipped to sign new Christian Benteke this summer.