Chris: We don't fear Villa By TONY LITTLE
The SunPORT VALE winger Chris Birchall has taunted David O’Leary by insisting: There is nothing to fear in Aston Villa.
The Trinidad and Tobago World Cup star is desperate for an FA Cup giant-killing today and believes the Premiership side are there for the taking.
He said: “I don’t think you have got much to fear against Villa. I think Villa are one of those teams who can have an off day if you get into them.
“We’re a team that loves to play football as well, so if we get into them and play our own game I think I can see an upset happening.”
Vale earned their trip to Villa Park with a 2-1 win over Doncaster. They are hardly setting League One on fire and are nine points away from a play-off spot.
But Birchall, 21, said: “We will be fancying our chances. It will give us the chance to adapt our game to the way Premiership teams play and see where we are.
“We can take good heart from the fact that Doncaster, who we beat in the last round of the FA Cup, overcame Villa in the Carling Cup.
“We might be mid-table in League One, but our performances away from home have been good this season.
“We play better against the top teams, and the way Villa play will suit us.We’re not going to Villa Park for a day out. We think we can get something.”
Birchall also intends using the tie to glean some vital information ahead of his World Cup adventure.
He will have Villa’s Swedish defender Olof Mellberg in his sights ahead of his country’s showdown with the Swedes in Germany.
Trinidad face England and Sweden in Group B and Birchall plans to give Mellberg a taste of what to expect.
