Tim Sherwood has admitted his Aston Villa team are in a “difficult period” and knows the pressure will be cranked up even more if they are unable to beat their near neighbours, Birmingham City, in the Capital One Cup tomorrow.
Villa have only one league win this season, on the opening day at Bournemouth, and their dismal run since includes losing their past two matches to Midlands rivals. On Saturday West Bromwich Albion beat them at Villa Park. This followed Leicester City’s 3-2 victory at the King Power Stadium after Villa led 2-0 with only 18 minutes remaining.
A defeat to Birmingham would increase the scrutiny on Sherwood and he is aware of the need for Villa to start picking up victories. “We need to experience that winning feeling again,” he said. “We are in a difficult period results-wise but we will fight to get ourselves out of it by doing what we believe in.
“That’s what we have always done since the start of the season. I don’t think we have achieved the points tally that we’ve deserved. But at this level, it’s the fine margins. It’s time our luck changed and something went for us.”
Sherwood is conscious that a third consecutive derby defeat would be particularly unpalatable to the Villa support. “It will be intense. It’s a big game and one I think they can handle. We tell the players that this means an awful lot and it’s not just a normal game,” he said. “You can only do it by talking to them. The experienced players in our dressing room who have experienced derbies can also help them along with that. I am telling them it means an awful lot to the fans and it means an awful lot to the dressing room.
“I just think you need to keep focused and keep to your plan. You need to impose yourself on a very organised Birmingham City side.
“That’s what we will try and do. It will be blood and thunder – we expect that. But we need 11 players on the pitch at the end of the game. We know it will be tough. We will show them a lot of respect – but not too much.
“It’s a derby game and anything can happen – we expect to win the game but I can say to you all the time that we expect to win every football match we take part in. It doesn’t always necessarily work out that way.
“We haven’t had the rub of the green this season but we get on with it. I knew when I came in this season that it would be a transitional period. It’s not surprised me.”
Gary Rowett’s City team are seventh in the Championship on 12 points and drew at Ipswich on Friday. Of the challenge they present, Sherwood added: “I don’t know him [Rowett] too well. But he’s done a very good job. His team look very organised. They carry a goal threat,” he said.
The Birmingham captain, Michael Morrison, says his team have to remain calm and disciplined as they look to cause a shock. “It will be an evening for cool heads, obviously people are going to be getting excited and want to put in challenges, work hard and show all the fans they care as well – which they all do,” he said.
“We are a real honest bunch, you just have to look every week how hard the lads work, not only from the back, from the front as well.
“We are going to put an honest shift in, we are going to work hard, we have got a game plan, we have got confidence and we have got good players as well. There is no reason why we can’t go there and cause problems.”
