James Chester: Cup success can help Aston Villa's league form
James Chester has called on Villa to give their season early momentum by beating Colchester.
The centre-back reckons Wednesday's first round Carabao Cup tie against the League Two club should be viewed as a chance to build confidence which can then be transferred into the Championship campaign.
Villa head to Essex as big favourites but also wary of the dangers should they not be on their game, having been dumped out of competition at the same stage by Luton 12 months ago. And having opened the season with a frustrating draw against Hull last weekend, Chester admits the focus must be on registering the first win.
“If you on a run of games regardless of who it’s against, it helps you in the league – it gives you momentum,” he said.
“We were a little bit disappointed not to get the victory against Hull, but if we can go and perform at Colchester and get that victory it will be a good win to take into Saturday in the league at Cardiff.”
Boss Steve Bruce is likely to make several changes from the team which faced the Tigers but will still name a strong starting XI, such is the depth of Villa’s squad.
Victory would increase fixture congestion during the early weeks and mean Villa will play seven games in the space of the season’s first 21 days. But Chester insists players do not mind.
“I’m used to it – you play a lot of games in this league and it’s what I really enjoy,” he said.
“If you ask any footballer, they’d prefer to play games than train. I was lucky enough to get to a cup final with Hull and that will be a memory I’ll look back on when I finish my career.
“But this season and with the size of this club, our main goal is getting promoted.”
