Craig Gardner has vowed to repay Villa’s “outstanding” support by helping ensure their Moscow trip is not their final European excursion of the campaign.

Around 300 of the claret and blue legion will be travelling to the Russian capital for Thursday’s UEFA Cup last 32 second leg against CSKA Moscow, as Villa aim to swing the tie in their favour and progress after last week’s 1-1 draw on home turf.

Midfielder Gardner hailed the atmosphere whipped up by flag-waving fans at Villa Park last week and believes they played their part in inspiring O’Neill’s men to an equaliser.

Now he aims to repay the loyal following who will have made their way to Moscow, by aiding Villa’s bid to book a place in the last 16 against either Shakhtar Donetsk or Tottenham.

He said: “The fans know we always put in 110 per cent. Every single game this season the fans have been absolutely outstanding, especially the fans in Europe who have been travelling all over the place to watch us.

“They were brilliant in the first leg and I’m sure that will continue. They clapped us off at half-time even though we were 1-0 down.

“When we came back out they got behind us again and we got the goal. They sing their hearts out for us and hopefully we can reward them with the result.”

Gardner insists there will be ‘no excuses’ for failure – not even the Luzhniki Stadium’s plastic pitch or the sub-zero conditions.

He said: “Is the cold over there a concern? No. It’s cold over here so we’ll put some gloves on and go out there and play!

“As for the plastic pitch, they’ve got to play on it as well. There are no excuses for us, we just have to win.”

Gardner was impressed by the technical ability of the Russian side in the first leg, but believes Villa will emerge triumphant if they deliver a performance like last Wednesday’s.

He added: “If we play like we did in the first leg we will get a result. I thought the whole team were just outstanding. We were so unlucky not to win but we got a result and hopefully we can go to Moscow and win.

“We are in the last 32 now so obviously every game is going to be hard. They are a really good side.

“They can pass the ball and their recent record in the UEFA Cup – they haven’t lost this season – shows how good they are.”