Shay Given sends warning to Aston Villa ahead of play-off final showdown with Derby County

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Aston Villa and Derby County are one game away from making a return to the Premier League.

Shay Given is hoping that ‘some’ of the Aston Villa players will have an ‘off day’ when they meet Derby County in the play-off final on May 27 at Wembley.

Former Villa man Given is on the coaching staff at the Ram s, who are managed by Frank Lampard and will be hoping to inflict another final defeat on Villa.

Last May, then-Villa manager Steve Bruce saw his team suffer a damaging and heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Fulham at Wembley, as current boss Dean Smith will be hoping to go one better this time around.

Speaking to Off The Ball, Derby goalkeeping coach Given shared his thoughts on the coming up clash against his former side in what is the richest game in football.

“It’s going to be very tough,” Given told Off The Ball. “We have lost both games against Villa and they have been very strong. We have to get back to where we were the other night [agaisnt Leeds] to have any chance of going through and hopefully some of the Villa players have an off day.

“It’s a one-off game. It’s a cup final. It’s a massive game. Hairs are standing up in the back of my neck already. Come kick off time, we will be ready and the Derby fans will be right behind us as well.

“I have been there [Wembley] as a player and the last time I was actually with Aston Villa [FA Cup final] would you believe, so this is going to be very, very special as a coach if we can get it done it’ll be super. It’s hard to think that way, at the minute because we have a lot of planning to do and training and preparing. But we’re giving ourselves a chance.”

Villa needed a penalty shootout to reach the play-off finals as Smith’s side had to overcome a stubborn West Brom side over two legs.

As for Derby, they arguably produced their best performance of the season at the most vital stage of the campaign when they scored four goals at Elland Road to book their Wembley ticket.

Lampard’s side went into that game one goal down and then two goals down on the night, but they still surprised many by scoring four goals against a shell-shocked Leeds United side.