Tuesday 22 September 2015 11:07, UK
Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood thinks a win over local rivals Birmingham would be the perfect way to ignite their season.
Sherwood's side triumphed in their opening game of the Premier League season but are winless since and smarting from derby defeats to Leicester and West Brom in their last two matches.
Next up for Villa is a Capital One Cup tie against Championship side Birmingham at Villa Park on Tuesday night and a raucous atmosphere is expected for another derby clash.
Asked if he saw the match as a chance to breathe life into Villa's campaign, Sherwood replied: "I agree, it is, it's a good one to win. It's a great occasion.
"It's a good game to send our fans home happy, because they haven't had many of them this season.
"We tell the players that this means an awful lot, it's not just a normal game. You can only do it by talking to them.
"It's a derby game and anything can happen. We expect to win the football match, like every game, but it doesn't always work out that way."
Villa were jeered by their fans at the end of Saturday's disappointing 1-0 home loss to the Baggies but Sherwood insists that four points is they least they deserve from the opening six Premier League fixtures.
"We haven't had the rub of the green this season and we haven't got what we've deserved," he said.
"We take it on the chin and we get on with it. We're in a difficult period results-wise now, we're going to fight to get ourselves out of it.
"I know what this game is like, every week is a long time in football.
"Saturday seemed a long way away from that Liverpool semi-final game at Wembley (which Villa won to reach the FA Cup final), that's for sure
"We know it has been a difficult start to the season points-wise. Our players give everything, the fans can see that. I wouldn't tolerate anything less."
Villa are likely to be without Idrissa Gueye (hamstring), Adama Traore (ankle) and Jores Okore (knee) for Tuesday night's game but forward Rudy Gestede is in contention to start.
