Warnock issues Wolves warning

The sixth-placed claret and blues have taken maximum points against big guns Liverpool and Chelsea this season, but both their Premier League defeats so far this term have come against bottom-half opposition – Wigan and Blackburn.

Saturday sees Martin O'Neill's men make the short trip to Molineux to face Mick McCarthy's 16th-placed side and Warnock admits Champions League-chasing Villa must handle the pressure of being favourites.

"Those results (against Chelsea and Liverpool) have been great, but then you have the flip side where we have lost to Wigan and Blackburn," said Warnock.

"Those are the types of games we need to win as well to prove we are a real force and hopefully we can prove that in the coming weeks."

Saturday's derby showdown will be the first of four away games in 10 days.

Warnock added: "These four straight away games will be test of stamina and resolve but no-one is going to want to play us. Everyone is going to fear us. "

Meanwhile, reports today have linked Blackburn with a January swoop for out-of-favour Villa forward Emile Heskey.