Five, four, three, two, one. We'll hear it at five to three tomorrow afternoon. And this time I've a mantra to accompany it.

So short orders from the Doc this game.

With McCann out of the picture, Villa are suddenly more creative, more dynamic and more mobile. Abandoning my desire, then, to force the attack issue by using a 4-4-2, I would like to see Villa return to the 4-3-3 going forward, 4-5-1 coming back formation used so convincingly earlier this season.

The personnel are pretty much there. And this is my "mantra" for them:

Five. Out of the blocks in the first, not the second;
Four. No nerves, no jitters, no caution, no stress
Three. The ball on the floor, and wide to both flanks
Two. Ninety for Laursen, no knocks, rips or strains
One. For Patrik Berger: make the play, make Wigan pay.

Up the Villa!