Aston Villa handed away tie against Southampton in League Cup draw

And manager Tim Sherwood knows victory against Birmingham in the Capital One Cup third round tonight is now even more important.

He was in fine form during the second half of Tuesday’s win over Birmingham City, claiming an assist for Rudy Gestede’s victor.

The outstanding statistic after Saturday’s 1-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion was that this is now fourth-bottom Villa’s worst start after six fixtures since their 1986-87 relegation campaign under Billy McNeill.

“He was fantastic. He’s good when he gets the space”, said Sherwood.

“We have a big game at home and it’s a hellish schedule and we have to cope with that”. You’re going to need a lot of bottle and in this game and he showed me he’s got it.

“Jordan just needs reminding that he’s a top player”.

His opposite number Tim Sherwood dismissed fears of a leak in his camp and insisted he tactically outmanoeuvred Birmingham despite a poor first-half display.

Livermore managed 69 minutes in his first appearance since May, when he was suspended following a positive cocaine test, and played his part as Steve Bruce’s side knocked over their Barclays Premier League opponents.

The big bonus in Villa lining up this way is that their regular full-backs are among the more attacking in the league and it won’t be so imperative that they return to their defensive positions quickly.

He said: “There shouldn’t be one of our players with their heads down, they should be really proud of what we’ve done”. They face home games against Stoke City and Swansea City, sandwiched by a trip to Chelsea, before wrapping thigns up against the Saints. Strikers in the past have been successful at Villa and I hope to follow the same path. “As quick as it can change the wrong way, it can change the right way again”, he declared.