Dean Smith turned to the television camera and broke into the broadest of smiles.
It was an hour before kick-off between Leicester and Aston Villa and a time when managers would usually be feeling tense before their pre-game interview, but Smith looked as though he had just sunk a long birdie putt on the 18th in his regular Sunday morning medal at Great Barr golf club.
How different the Villa manager’s manner had been at the same venue just seven months ago.
Beaten 4-0 at the King Power Stadium on March 9, Smith looked broken, muttering angrily about a VAR call as his team seemed destined for relegation.