Stewart Downing insists Villa’s Carling Cup hopefuls won’t take their eye off the ball against Crystal Palace – after a furious team-talk triggered their Burnley blitz.

An abject first-half display from the claret and blues had seen them finish the opening 45 minutes all square at 1-1, provoking an angry dressing down from the claret and blue boss at half-time.

Champions League-chasing Villa, who remain seventh but moved within a point of fourth, responded with four goals in a 12-minute extravaganza to win the Premier League clash 5-2.

Downing, who started the spree with two goals in as many minutes, reckons there is “no chance” of manager Martin O’Neill allowing them to be distracted by Sunday’s Carling Cup final with Manchester United when they face Palace in Wednesday’s FA Cup replay.

The winger said: “There is no chance at all of that happening, not with the manager, no chance. Even yesterday at half-time, he wasn’t very happy. It took a gee-up from him and a few other players to get us going, because it wasn’t acceptable really.

“It worked wonders, because in the second-half we looked a different team. The manager stresses every game is very important and you can sense by his team selection, he wants to win every game.

“He is a great man motivator and today at half-time was the perfect example with a kick up the backside.”

Downing was delighted to score his first league goals for Villa after twice finding the left corner on 56 and 58 minutes.

He said: “It was nice to get off the mark. It is good for the result with the other teams around us playing, it was a big day, and we needed to keep in that pack. We scored some great goals and got three points, so it couldn’t have gone any better for us.”

The Villa star insists Palace will have Villa’s total respect in the fifth-round replay.

He said: “They deserve that. They have got their problems but that is making them play well and they are playing for their future as well. They could have won against us to be honest.

“We’ve had a bit of luck in the last minute to get the equaliser but they are a good team, have some good players and a good manager.”