Tim Sherwood has told his Aston Villa team that today's visit of Swansea to Villa Park is their cup final, just five months after they were humiliated in their real cup final against Arsenal.

Villa have lost seven of their last eight league games as they endure their worst ever start to the season. When they defeated Bournemouth on the opening day of the season things looked so different but just one point from twenty four since then has heaped the pressure on Sherwood.

The Villa manager led his side to the FA Cup final last term but it has been downhill for his side since they were hammered 4-0 by Arsenal at Wembley and the win over Bournemouth was the only real bright spot in a dismal season to date.

The Swans are not having it much better with no win in five games but ask any Villa fan and they would swap places with us right now and that should be something that can spur us on today.

Villa boss Sherwood is in no doubt as to the importance of today's game though “I am telling the players it is must-win.

"I think it is important we win sooner rather than later. I am telling the players this is the cup final, forget Wembley last season, this is the cup final.

“There ain’t a bigger game in my mind, it is massive.

“Not only for me but it is a massive game for them as well, they all want to be Premier League footballers. This club needs to be in the Premier League.”

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