Aston Villa planning some kit-ology

Assistant boss Peter Grant plans to sneak Villa's players in with the kit to give them the edge in their FA Cup third-round tie against Bristol Rovers.

The match will be screened live by ESPN at 5.30pm on Saturday with the presence of the television cameras at the League Two club indicating that TV producers scent the chance of an upset. Villa went out last year after fielding a weakened team against Manchester City.

Add that to the limp exit from the Carling Cup against Bolton and there is added pressure on the claret and blues to book their place in the next round at the weekend.

And Grant revealed that a tactic he used at Norwich could help Villa's players, who are accustomed to Premier League facilities, adjust to the less salubrious surroundings of the Memorial Stadium.

"When I was the manager at Norwich we played Tamworth in an FA Cup tie and I said to them a day before: 'Is it OK if we come and drop the kit off?' and they said:

'Yes, no problem.'

"Little did they know I was taking the full team!" said Grant. "We were able to have a look around the dressing room and have a walk on the pitch, just so they got a feel for it.

"Tamworth thought they would love to get an upset against big Dion Dublin and the rest of us, but we ended up winning the game quite comfortably.

"Bristol Rovers have got to be worried if we say we want to drop the kit off, especially if they see 15 of us carrying it in!

"Nowadays when our young boys look at the facilities here they might think maybe that's the same everywhere. It's not, that's why it's important to go and experience these things.

"If you're only used to the grander things in life it can be quite an eye-opener."

Rovers recently sacked manager Paul Buckle but Grant says the Pirates will not be taken for granted. "We'll treat them as if we're playing Chelsea," he added.