Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo has given his players a confidence boost by insisting that they will finish in the Championship's top six.
Relegated Villa have drawn seven of their 10 league games this season, including their last five.
It has left them just two points above the Championship relegation zone.
But Di Matteo is happy at their general form and is looking the other way up the table, pointing out: "We are only seven points behind sixth place."
Villa travel to Preston North End for the first time in 42 years on Saturday, followed by a home derby against Wolves on 15 October.