Crouch sale 'mistake' - Barry

Captain Gareth Barry has kicked off the countdown to Villa's trip to Liverpool this Saturday by insisting the club were wrong to sell Peter Crouch.

The beanpole England striker was sold to Southampton by former boss David O'Leary for a knockdown £2m in August 2004.

Twelve months later the 6ft 7ins forward was snapped up by Liverpool for a cool £7m and forced his way into the England line-up with an excellent goals record.

Barry and Crouch remain friends, and he believes the former Portsmouth man should have been given more time.

"Peter's an excellent player who can do so much more than head it and hold the ball up," said Barry.

"If you look at his goals record when he was here at Villa, it was good.

"He would bring people in the game, win it in the air and lay it off, as well as score.

"Any team would welcome those assets and maybe he was sold too early at Villa."

Meanwhile, Villa matchwinner Gabby Agbonlahor wants a Second City derby as reward for their Carling Cup march to the last 16.

Agbonlahor scored a dramatic deflected winner in the last minute of extra-time as Villa beat Leicester 3-2 last night to clinch a fourth round spot in tonight's Sky-televised draw. Second city rivals Birmingham beat Sheffield United 4-2.

And Agbonlahor said: "We want a home draw in the next round and I think the fans would love a derby with Blues at Villa Park.

"That would be a special occasion, but we'll be happy with anybody at home."

He added: "I was just so relieved to get that goal. It took a deflection but it went in.

"I think I probably would've been down for a penalty, but I was glad to win it in extra-time."

Manager Martin O'Neill praised rookie midfielder Isaiah Osbourne, who made his full debut.

"I thought Isaiah was great," said the boss.

• Celtic defender Bobo Balde has dismissed reports that former Hoops boss Martin O'Neill will make a move for him in the January transfer window.