STEPHEN WARNOCK TARGETS CITY WIN

Defender Stephen Warnock has warned Manchester City that away-day specialists Villa have the ammunition to triumph in Saturday’s top-four face-off. Fifth-placed Villa head into this weekend’s do-or-die clash at Eastlands boasting the second-best away record in the Premier League behind Manchester United, after winning their last three games on the road.

Strikers Gabby Agbonlahor and John Carew have both recently enjoyed rich veins of form, while midfielders James Milner and Ashley Young have bagged over 20 goals between them.

Defender Stephen Warnock has warned Manchester City that away-day specialists Villa have the ammunition to triumph in Saturday’s top-four face-off. Fifth-placed Villa head into this weekend’s do-or-die clash at Eastlands boasting the second-best away record in the Premier League behind Manchester United, after winning their last three games on the road.

Strikers Gabby Agbonlahor and John Carew have both recently enjoyed rich veins of form, while midfielders James Milner and Ashley Young have bagged over 20 goals between them.

And Warnock reckons Villa’s “matchwinners” can outgun sixth-placed City, who trail them by two points having played a game less, and keep Villa’s Champions League alive going into next Sunday’s final round of games. He said: “The game at Eastlands will be vital. I think it will go down to the wire on the very last day and it will be very closely run.

“Hopefully we’ll still be in there fighting. It’s fascinating for the neutrals. We’ve got players who are capable of causing problems. We’ve got loads of match-winners that are capable of winning games for us so we know that we’re a good team. “The pressure is on all of us. It’s what we all want and that we’re all trying to get. City have lost one to United and it’s put us straight back into it, which just shows the run we’ve put together.

WARNOCK: I’M BACK FOR THE DERBY

Villa defender Stephen Warnock today declared himself fit for derby-day combat – and called for calm heads in the white-hot atmosphere which awaits on Sunday.

The left-back had emerged as a doubt for this weekend’s eagerly-anticipated Birmingham clash after soldiering through Wednesday’s win at Hull with an ankle problem.

But he has handed Martin O’Neill’s top-four hopefuls a major boost by confirming he is primed for battle.

“I’m fine, I took a couple of whacks but nothing out of the ordinary so I’m fit and ready,” said Warnock.

Villa defender Stephen Warnock today declared himself fit for derby-day combat – and called for calm heads in the white-hot atmosphere which awaits on Sunday.

The left-back had emerged as a doubt for this weekend’s eagerly-anticipated Birmingham clash after soldiering through Wednesday’s win at Hull with an ankle problem.

But he has handed Martin O’Neill’s top-four hopefuls a major boost by confirming he is primed for battle.

“I’m fine, I took a couple of whacks but nothing out of the ordinary so I’m fit and ready,” said Warnock.

“I’ve got a black eye because I got an elbow to the face and I got a kick on the ankle but it’s not a problem at all. It’s just part and parcel of the game and you’ve just got to get on with it.”

WARNOCK READY FOR DERBY MATCH

Villa defender Stephen Warnock today declared himself fit for derby-day combat – and called for calm heads in the white-hot atmosphere which awaits on Sunday.

The left-back had emerged as a doubt for this weekend’s eagerly-anticipated Birmingham clash after soldiering through Wednesday’s win at Hull with an ankle problem.

But he has handed Martin O’Neill’s top-four hopefuls a major boost by confirming he is primed for battle.

“I’m fine, I took a couple of whacks but nothing out of the ordinary so I’m fit and ready,” said Warnock.

Villa defender Stephen Warnock today declared himself fit for derby-day combat – and called for calm heads in the white-hot atmosphere which awaits on Sunday.

The left-back had emerged as a doubt for this weekend’s eagerly-anticipated Birmingham clash after soldiering through Wednesday’s win at Hull with an ankle problem.

But he has handed Martin O’Neill’s top-four hopefuls a major boost by confirming he is primed for battle.

“I’m fine, I took a couple of whacks but nothing out of the ordinary so I’m fit and ready,” said Warnock.

“I’ve got a black eye because I got an elbow to the face and I got a kick on the ankle but it’s not a problem at all. It’s just part and parcel of the game and you’ve just got to get on with it.”