Express & Star

Villa Blog: Is this the weekend?

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With a final a few weeks away, Villa blogger Matt Turvey looks at how confidence has played a part in helping Aston Villa achieve survival.

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With Aston Villa within touching distance of safety, it will be up to Tim Sherwood's man to put relegation fears to bed. A trip to St. Mary's may not be an ideal game, but Villa are in a position where it is simply time to put up or shut up.

In recent months, Villa are in a far better position in terms of getting the job done. With Christian Benteke scoring for fun, fans will be breathing a sigh of relief - at least until the end of the season. Reports suggest that a FA Cup win may well persuade Villa's Belgian striker to stay at Villa Park, but Villa without Benteke would pose a significant challenge for Sherwood, especially given he has no previous form in the transfer market.

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Getting back to the game at the weekend, it should make for a great spectacle for the neutral as both Southampton and Villa want to play football, and it may well be goals-a-plenty. That such a statement can be made is quite remarkable as Villa have earned a reputation for dour but functional football, shackled by a belief that this was all they were good for - a view that seems almost laughable now Sherwood has made such an impact.

If Villa can get at Southampton, there's a strong chance that the club can guarantee their safety despite the Villans being classed as underdogs in the match up. What matters then is where the club is going. With Randy Lerner desiring a sale, and Sherwood only in post for a few months, the flux needs to die down. Yes, new owners may have a different vision for the club, but it would seem remarkably harsh if Sherwood's reign is cut short, especially if he does the unthinkable and wins the club's first FA Cup in 58 years.

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In fairness, Sherwood has only overseen a small part of the FA Cup journey, but few would have suggested that Villa would have had the response in the semi-final under Paul Lambert. Instead, the club are just 90 minutes for glory - a stark contrast to the overall mood for the season which has been dismal and dark.

Whilst the final may not be for another few weeks, the confidence gained from such an achievement will no doubt push forward Sherwood's team to a positive result at the weekend. In many cases, a cup run has been an unwanted distraction but, in this instance, it seems that it is the perfect tonic to ensure the club's survival and the chance to focus on next season instead.

You can follow Matt Turvey's regular opinions at his own site, Aston Villa Life at http://www.astonvillalife.com, via the site's Twitter account @astonvillalife, or via his own Twitter account @mturvey_star.