Aston Villa: Curtis Davies calls for crowd support
Aug 26 2009 By Mat Kendrick
CURTIS Davies has challenged the revitalised Villa Park faithful to recreate Rapid Vienna’s intimidating atmosphere in tomorrow night’s Europa League play-off second-leg showdown.
Davies hopes Villa’s home crowd will be buzzing against the Austrians after Martin O’Neill’s men kick-started their season in emphatic style with Monday’s brilliant 3-1 league win at Liverpool.
The former Albion skipper, who came roaring back with a colossal personal performance at Anfield, including a goal, believes Villa should try to emulate the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium vibe.
Rapid’s partisan supporters gave the Green-Whites the edge in last Thursday’s first leg by chanting from start to finish and jumping up and down during the 1-0 home victory for Peter Pacult’s team.
And Davies hopes similar support from the claret-and-blue brigade tomorrow night will inspire Villa to the two-goal victory they need to make it through the play-off and progress to the group stages.
“It was just one of those frustrating situations in Vienna,” he said.
“Because they were in such a set formation and were happy for us to play the ball in front of them it was hard to break them down.
“Hopefully, come Villa Park, with a bit of a bigger pitch we can move the ball around better and get the two goals that we need to get through.
“It was a brilliant atmosphere over there. I’ve heard people say it’s intimidating, but that’s football.
“These are the games you want to play in. I know people go to massive European clubs and see the atmosphere there, but this is as good an atmosphere as I’ve played in. The ultras behind one end of the goal were quality, it really lifted the game, especially with them scoring in the first minute and they were singing from the first minute all the way to the 90th minute.
“It would be welcome if we can create something like that, if we can get the first goal and get the crowd lifted early doors and get them behind us.
“Hopefully we’ve got enough in our locker to get the two goals we need and keep a clean sheet to go through.”
O’Neill was today closing in on defensive reinforcements to strengthen the under-stocked Villa backline.
