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Neil Warnock backs Aston Villa's 'big players' at Wembley

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock is backing Aston Villa's 'big players' at Wembley, claiming they could be the deciding factor in the Championship play-off final.

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Warnock guided his Cardiff side to second in the Championship this season, leaving Aston Villa and Fulham to battle it out for the final promotion place via the play-offs, with both sides successfully negotiating their semi-final contests.

With Villa and Fulham both preparing for the crunch encounter, Warnock believes Villa's experienced players could make the difference.

"It's a toss of the coin." he said, speaking on TalkSPORT earlier this week.

"I mean, Fulham have been the best footballing team in the division, but Villa have got the names.

"They've got that stability, they've got John [Terry] at the back.

"If Fulham really play, then Fulham are the best team. But in a match like that, the experience that Villa have got in all the positions really.

"I just think, they've got individuals, Villa. On their day they can beat anybody. They can also lose to anybody on their day.

"But I think at Wembley, the stature, I think they've got big players in there."

Fulham have been tipped as the bookies' favourites throughout the week, with fans citing teen sensation, Ryan Sessegnon as one player who could have a big part to play in the encounter.

However, Warnock believes that it's Villa's creative spark in Jack Grealish who could hold the key to the game, if he plays to his potential.

"Grealish, I've had run-ins with him in the last couple of years, because when you blow on him he goes down. But when he plays he's as good as anything in that league, I love to watch him play." he said.

"He's got everything now and he's got the best manager he could have hasn't he? Because if anybody can keep his feet on the floor it'll be Steve [Bruce].

"He has had run-ins with everybody really, a bit like me. But when you watch him in full flight he's very exciting."