Carew targets Wembley return

Carew: Wembley bug

The FA Cup is an even bigger cup, and even more important, so it will be even greater to go all the way in that competition.

John Carew
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Aston Villa striker John Carew believes FA Cup success would be the perfect medicine for their Carling Cup misery.

That ambition would have seemed like an improbable dream in the Villa dressing room at half-time on Sunday - when Martin O'Neill's side were trailing 2-0 to Reading in the quarter-final of the tournament.

However, a dramatic turnaround followed the break and winger Ashley Young kicked off a four-goal second half, which saw the Premier League side emerge as 4-2 victors.

It was Carew who built on Young's dream start to the second period - scoring an impressive hat-trick to secure Villa a semi-final meeting with Chelsea.

"We had a very hard and difficult first half but we managed to come out after the break and lift our game," said Carew.

Hungry

"We had to look at each other in the eyes at half-time and knew we just had to go out in the second half and do better than we did in the first.

"We just seemed a bit surprised by everything. The conditions were a bit difficult and the ball was in the air a lot. We didn't seem to be up for the fight.

"But, in the second half we went out there with more desire, and showed that we really do want to go further in this competition."

Villa have already overcome the Blues at home in the Premier League this season and the Midlands side can also boast a tournament final to their name this campaign.

Their last trip to Wembley ended in a 2-1 Carling Cup final defeat to Manchester United but Carew insists the experience has made them even more hungry for success.

Another chance

"We're really pleased to have a chance to get to another final. We managed to do it in the Carling Cup and now we've got a chance to do the same in another cup," said the Norwegian.

"We will do everything we can to get there.

"We want to make amends for losing the final and I think we can turn last week into a positive.

"The FA Cup is an even bigger cup, and even more important, so it will be even greater to go all the way in that competition.

"The players will have learned a lot from last weekend. It was a great experience, the big scene of Wembley, and everything.

"It makes you want more of the same sort of occasion. Everyone dreams of getting to the final again and we've got another chance."