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Aston Villa owner Tony Xia calls for unity as Championship race heats up

Owner Tony Xia has issued a rallying cry to Villa’s supporters as the Championship promotion race heats up.

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Villa resume their league campaign when they visit Nottingham Forest on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm).

Steve Bruce’s men head into the weekend fifth in the table, five points behind second-placed Derby and searching for a third straight league victory. Back-to-back wins over Middlesbrough and Bristol City helped reignite Villa’s season after a five-game winless run during December threatened to derail their challenge.

Xia has himself been a vocal critic of certain performances during a campaign which has so far contained its fair share of ups and downs.

But he has now called on supporters to pull together for what promises to be a vital period.

Writing on Twitter, Xia said: “The next 10 games will be very very crucial to us this season. I beg all of you do your best to support and that’s all Villans can contribute the most.

“Believe me, we together will make it this season! Show the Power of the Unified villa fans!”

Xia took the reins at Villa Park in June 2016 following a £76.2million buy-out of Randy Lerner.

And though the Beijing-based businessman is yet to restore the club to the top flight, he does believe they have made progress.

He said: “I’m confident we have turned around the club from very serious crisis and improved a lot though it’s still far away from our long term target.

“We’ll get there sooner or later, better than later. Being negative all time doesn’t help anything. Stand together to a unifying culture.”