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Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood calls for focus on league points

Manager Tim Sherwood of Aston Villa on the touchline
Image: Tim Sherwood: Aston Villa boss is wary of players looking ahead to the cup final

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has warned his players they have to maintain their focus on winning Premier League games ahead of next month’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

Villa play current holders Arsenal on May 30 as the Midlands club look to end a troubled campaign on a high by winning the trophy for the first time since 1957.

However, the team are still battling to secure their top-flight status, and Sherwood will use the battle for cup final places to keep his players on their toes.

He is desperate to repeat Wigan’s experience - the Lancashire club were relegated after beating Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup final.

"We want to avoid that and it is good to use as an example," said Sherwood ahead of Saturday’s match with City.

"It is not what anyone enjoys. We certainly won't be enjoying that trip to Wembley if we are not a Premier League club at that time.

"We realise we have a lot of hard work to do. We obviously want to win the FA Cup and nothing is going to get in the way of that.

"But at the same time we definitely still need to be in the league. We will use everything we can to warn them against complacency.

"But really their motivation should be if they want to play in an FA Cup final they have to prove their worth to me in the league games remaining.

"If they don't then they won't be selected. There will be no-one saving themselves for the FA Cup final, put it that way.

"We are very confident we can stay in the Premier League but if you take your foot off the pedal, you never know - this game shocks you."

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