McLeish targets FA Cup success

Manager Alex McLeish wants to end Aston Villa’s 55-year FA Cup trophy drought.

Villa, whose campaign kicks off at Bristol Rovers on Saturday, last won the cup in 1957 and the Scot has targeted the tournament after winning the Carling Cup last year with bitter rivals Birmingham City.

“It (1957) is a long time, isn’t it? But Hibernian had gone something like 100 years without winning the Scottish Cup when I got them to the final,” McLeish said.

“I know how much it hurts the fans when they’ve not had success for a long, long time – especially a club of Aston Villa’s history and heritage.”

“I hope there’s more drama to come and it’s all in Aston Villa’s favour in this competition. We seriously want to do well in the FA Cup.”

“We saw what happened with Birmingham last season. It can be done, absolutely, but you’ve got to do your best and sometimes you need a wee rub of the green in terms of draws.”

Villa’s opponents Rovers sacked manager Paul Buckle this week following the club’s slide towards the bottom of the League Two table, however McLeish has warned his players the game will be a tough test.

“From the outside, it might look like they are in a bit of a trouble after losing their manager,” he said.

“But they will see it as a game where they have absolutely nothing to lose.”

“They are not expected to beat Aston Villa but they will be asking our players if they fancy it.”