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Robert Snodgrass says fear of failure driving Aston Villa

Aston Villa winger Robert Snodgrass, who is on loan from West Ham United
Image: Robert Snodgrass believes dreading defeat can help Aston Villa against Fulham

Robert Snodgrass insists the fear of failure can inspire Aston Villa's Premier League return.

The West Ham loanee is ready for Saturday's Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Fulham, live on Sky Sports Football, as Villa look to end a two-year exile from the top flight.

Should they fail, Villa will only bank £15m of parachute payments next season, their last year of the cash having been relegated in 2016.

Financially it is crucial the club returns to the Premier League and Snodgrass, who played in Hull's 1-0 play-off final victory against Sheffield Wednesday in 2016, believes dreading defeat can help.

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He said: "I know some of the other lads have experienced it as well. That's beauty of the play-offs, it's the fear of losing that drives you forwards.

"None of the lads want to lose.

"Everybody wants to be on the good end, the club have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to get the club back there. It's very rare you get a second chance to get to your final destination.

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"We fell short in the automatic places, we know now there's no room for error.

'It's the Championship though isn't it? Everybody loves watching the Championship."

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Aston Villa reached the play-off final courtesy of a 1-0 aggregate win over Middlesbrough

Villa edged past Middlesbrough 1-0 in the semi-final having finished fourth, although they were 18th when Snodgrass joined in August and won just one of their opening seven league games.

Fulham missed out on automatic promotion on the final day but Scotland international Snodgrass has been impressed by the Cottagers this term.

The 30-year-old said: "It feels like I've had three seasons in one with West Ham, then coming here, then getting to the play-offs. We know it's going to be hard, but if you want results, you've got to beat the best.

"We have to beat Fulham who have been one of the best teams in the division.

"I'm taking about all season, even taking Wolves and Cardiff into account and they went up.

"Everybody watching Fulham would probably agree."

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