Premier League: Survival the sole focus for Aston Villa

Birmingham's League Cup joy was overshadowed by relegation

It's only natural that Aston Villa obituary writers surface, but Christian Crowther suggests that their Capital One Cup exit will aid Premier League survival...

On another night of high drama in the Capital One Cup, Bradford made history by becoming the first team from the fourth tier of English football to reach the final in 51 years.

Bradford's Wembley opponents are yet to be decided though, after accounting for three Premier League teams in a row including Arsenal, their identity will not really matter.

Phil Parkinson's heroes can currently be backed at 6.611/2 to lift the Capital One Cup at Wembley on February 24.

Of course, Bantams' jubilation came at a high price for Premier League side Aston Villa, who capped a truly miserable campaign to date by bombing out of the competition in front of their fans.

Nevertheless, out of such adversity could come hope for the midlanders. Paul Lambert's wounded troops can use the hurt of such a loss as fuel to turn around their season.

Every Villa fan would have been desperate to see their side make it to Wembley but, asked if they would prefer the Capital One Cup trophy over Premier League survival, not many would go for option one.

They only have to cast their eyes a short way across the city to rivals Birmingham as a stark example of League Cup victors who let their league form slide to terminal effect.

After their Wembley heroics, the Blues went on to lose seven of their remaining 12 league fixtures, winning just twice as they fell through the trapdoor, yet to return.

Rather than follow Birmingham into the Championship abyss, Lambert's side must refocus their efforts on the league, perhaps even putting out a weakened team for their upcoming FA Cup fixture at Millwall.

Villa do have the players to escape the situation, with the likes of Christian Benteke leading the line, Ron Vlaar back in the defence and Stephen Ireland in the middle, but they must lead by example.

With all the negativity surrounding the Villans after this loss, there may not be a better time to lay them for relegation at 2.0811/10.